Shakespeare’s use of personification in “Sonnet 55”

The Power of Personification in Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 55’

Shakespeare’s sonnets are a treasure trove of literary devices that have captivated readers for centuries. One such device is personification, which involves giving human attributes to non-human objects or abstract concepts. In Sonnet 55, Shakespeare employs personification to breathe life into the abstract concept of time. The sonnet is a celebration of the power of poetry to immortalize the beloved, and Shakespeare’s use of personification is a powerful tool in achieving this end. By endowing time with human qualities, Shakespeare not only makes it more relatable to the reader but also elevates the importance of his poetry. The result is a sonnet that is both beautiful and thought-provoking, leaving the reader with a deep appreciation for the power of language and the intricate workings of the human mind. In this article, we’ll explore the power of personification in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 55 and how it contributes to the overall impact of the poem.

The use of personification in Sonnet 55

Sonnet 55 is one of Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets, and it is often regarded as a celebration of the power of poetry to immortalize the beloved. The sonnet is structured as a series of quatrains followed by a couplet, and it employs a number of literary devices, including personification. In the first quatrain, Shakespeare begins by addressing time as a person, saying “Not marble, nor the gilded monuments/Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme.” Here, Shakespeare is personifying time by giving it the ability to compete with physical objects that are usually considered immortal, such as marble or gilded monuments.

In the second quatrain, Shakespeare continues to personify time, saying “But you shall shine more bright in these contents/Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.” Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that his poetry will make the beloved immortal in a way that even physical objects cannot achieve. By personifying time as “unswept” and “besmeared with sluttish time,” Shakespeare is emphasizing the transience of physical objects and highlighting the power of poetry to transcend time.

In the third quatrain, Shakespeare continues to personify time, saying “When wasteful war shall statues overturn,/And broils root out the work of masonry.” Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that even the work of masonry, which is usually considered immortal, will be destroyed by time. By personifying time as “wasteful” and “rooting out” the work of masonry, Shakespeare is emphasizing the destructive power of time.

Analysis of the first quatrain

In the first quatrain of Sonnet 55, Shakespeare begins by addressing time as a person, saying “Not marble, nor the gilded monuments/Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme.” Here, Shakespeare is personifying time by giving it the ability to compete with physical objects that are usually considered immortal, such as marble or gilded monuments.

By using personification, Shakespeare is able to create a more vivid and relatable image of time for the reader. Instead of simply referring to time as an abstract concept, Shakespeare gives it human qualities that make it more tangible and easier to understand. By endowing time with the ability to compete with physical objects, Shakespeare is also elevating the importance of his poetry. He is suggesting that his poetry is more powerful than even the most enduring physical objects and that it has the ability to immortalize the beloved in a way that physical objects cannot.

Analysis of the second quatrain

In the second quatrain of Sonnet 55, Shakespeare continues to personify time, saying “But you shall shine more bright in these contents/Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.” Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that his poetry will make the beloved immortal in a way that even physical objects cannot achieve.

By personifying time as “unswept” and “besmeared with sluttish time,” Shakespeare is emphasizing the transience of physical objects and highlighting the power of poetry to transcend time. He is suggesting that physical objects, which are usually considered immortal, will eventually succumb to the ravages of time. By contrast, his poetry will shine more brightly than even the most enduring physical objects.

Analysis of the third quatrain

In the third quatrain of Sonnet 55, Shakespeare continues to personify time, saying “When wasteful war shall statues overturn,/And broils root out the work of masonry.” Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that even the work of masonry, which is usually considered immortal, will be destroyed by time.

By personifying time as “wasteful” and “rooting out” the work of masonry, Shakespeare is emphasizing the destructive power of time. He is suggesting that even the most enduring physical objects will eventually succumb to the ravages of time. By contrast, his poetry will endure and will make the beloved immortal in a way that physical objects cannot.

Analysis of the couplet

In the couplet of Sonnet 55, Shakespeare concludes by saying “So, till the judgment that yourself arise,/You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.” Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that his poetry will make the beloved immortal until the end of time.

By using the word “judgment,” Shakespeare is alluding to the end of time, when all physical objects will be destroyed. By contrast, his poetry and the beloved will live on in the eyes of lovers. By using personification to elevate the importance of his poetry, Shakespeare is able to create a powerful and enduring image of the power of language to transcend time.

Significance of personification in Sonnet 55

The use of personification in Sonnet 55 is significant for a number of reasons. First, it allows Shakespeare to create a more vivid and relatable image of time for the reader. By giving time human qualities, Shakespeare is able to make it more tangible and easier to understand. Second, by endowing time with human qualities, Shakespeare is able to elevate the importance of his poetry. He is suggesting that his poetry is more powerful than even the most enduring physical objects and that it has the ability to immortalize the beloved in a way that physical objects cannot.

Finally, by using personification to create a powerful and enduring image of the power of language to transcend time, Shakespeare is able to leave the reader with a deep appreciation for the intricacies of the human mind and the power of language to shape our understanding of the world.

Comparison with other sonnets that use personification

Shakespeare employs personification in a number of his sonnets, and Sonnet 55 is just one example. In Sonnet 18, for example, Shakespeare personifies summer, saying “And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that even the most beautiful and enduring things in life are fleeting.

In Sonnet 116, Shakespeare personifies love, saying “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,/But bears it out even to the edge of doom.” Here, Shakespeare is suggesting that love is immortal and that it has the power to endure even in the face of death.

In each of these sonnets, Shakespeare uses personification to create a more vivid and relatable image of abstract concepts such as time, summer, and love. By doing so, he is able to elevate the importance of his poetry and leave the reader with a deep appreciation for the power of language to shape our understanding of the world.

The impact of personification on the reader

The use of personification in Sonnet 55 has a powerful impact on the reader. By giving time human qualities, Shakespeare is able to create a more vivid and relatable image of an abstract concept that is often difficult to understand. By endowing time with the ability to compete with physical objects, Shakespeare is also able to elevate the importance of his poetry. He is suggesting that his poetry is more powerful than even the most enduring physical objects and that it has the ability to immortalize the beloved in a way that physical objects cannot.

By using personification to create a powerful and enduring image of the power of language to transcend time, Shakespeare is also able to leave the reader with a deep appreciation for the intricacies of the human mind and the power of language to shape our understanding of the world. The impact of personification on the reader is therefore significant, as it allows us to see the world in a new and more meaningful way.

Conclusion

Shakespeare’s Sonnet 55 is a celebration of the power of poetry to immortalize the beloved, and one of the literary devices that he employs to great effect is personification. By endowing time with human qualities, Shakespeare is able to create a more vivid and relatable image of an abstract concept that is often difficult to understand.

By using personification to create a powerful and enduring image of the power of language to transcend time, Shakespeare is also able to leave the reader with a deep appreciation for the intricacies of the human mind and the power of language to shape our understanding of the world. The impact of personification on the reader is therefore significant, as it allows us to see the world in a new and more meaningful way.