Death In Sonnet 73

In Sonnet #73, William Shakespeare uses death to demonstrate that one day whether we like it or not we will grow old and eventually pass. Shakespeare speaks about life and how it all ends; he also speaks of the pressure we have to deal with the fact that no matter what happens we all come to an end. Shakespeare shows how the human body loves to the fullest because you never know what can happen tomorrow. He approaches these feelings by the use of images, in resemblance to death and the time passing.

The lines “Upon those boughs which shake against the cold, bare ruined choirs where late the sweet birds sang. In me thou seest the twilight of such day.” (Lines 3-4). Just in those short two lines it gives you a gloomy environment then it changes and demonstrates that in every unpleasant thing there is always an aptitude to observe beauty even though it’s not promised that it will last for a long period time but we have to appreciate it as if it were our last. An additional line that is symbolic is the line “consumed with that which it was nourished by” (Line 12) this symbolizes the way life gives you magnificence but how it also takes it away when it comes your turn to pass away. One other line that I found particularly similar is the line “which by and by black night doth steal away.” (Line 7). The black night is usually represented as death and it also means that the days pass and everyday our lives get shorter. Shakespeare was trying to give the reader a better understanding that death comes whenever it pleases like the dark knight which can’t be stopped.

There is some symbolism found throughout the poem, the first three lines are symbolizing the seasons for example “When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang” (Line 2) he’s...

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...the worry about passing away but to enjoy life every day because you never know if today could be your last day. Shakespeare incorporates in his last lines “This thou perceivest, which makes thy love more strong, to love that well which thou must leave ere long.” Which in my interpretation means that someone who they care for dearly or even”love” as used in the poem, is getting old and getting closer to death. This changes the whole understanding of the poem because it’s not so much of how we deal with death anymore its how someone deals with the passing of someone they love. This is the truth; your own death is depressing and frightening but seeing the person who you love is die is definitely harder to take in. On the bright side, in terms of the sonnet we are all supported by the people we love, who want us to stay well and not die, we are desired and appreciated.