Sonnet 10: For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any
For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any,
Who for thyself art so unprovident.
Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,
But that thou none lovest is most evident;
For thou art so possessed with murderous hate,
That ‘gainst thyself thou stick’st not to conspire.
Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate,
Which to repair should be thy chief desire.
O, change thy thought, that I may change my mind!
Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?
Be, as thy presence is, gracious and kind,
Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove:
Make thee another self, for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine or thee.
Sonnet 10: Unpacking Shakespeare’s Plea for Legacy
Welcome, poetry explorers, to a fascinating journey into one of Shakespeare’s early sonnets, Sonnet 10. This poem is a powerful and direct address, a heartfelt plea from the speaker to a beautiful young man. It is a vital piece in understanding Shakespeare’s recurring themes of beauty, time, and the importance of leaving a legacy.
Summary of Sonnet 10: For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any
Sonnet 10 is essentially a passionate argument urging a handsome young man to marry and have children. The speaker accuses the young man of being “unprovident,” meaning he is not planning for the future, particularly in preserving his own striking beauty. The poem suggests that while many people might love the young man, he himself seems incapable of loving anyone, even himself. This self-centeredness is dramatically portrayed as a form of “murderous hate” against his own potential and beauty. The speaker implores the young man to change his mindset, to embrace “gentle love” instead of this destructive self-absorption, and to create an heir. This heir, or “another self,” would allow his beauty to live on, ensuring that his remarkable qualities do not vanish with him.
Central Idea and Noteworthy Knowledge
The central idea of Sonnet 10 revolves around the theme of procreation as a means to defy the destructive power of time and ensure the continuation of beauty and legacy. It is part of Shakespeare’s “Procreation Sonnets” (Sonnets 1-17), where the speaker consistently urges a young man to marry and have children. What is particularly noteworthy about Sonnet 10 is its intense and almost accusatory tone. The speaker does not merely suggest procreation, but frames the young man’s refusal as a moral failing, a form of self-hatred that actively works against his own best interests. This sonnet highlights the speaker’s deep concern for the young man’s future and the preservation of his exceptional beauty.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 10: For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any
Let us delve deeper into the rich tapestry of language and meaning that Shakespeare weaves in Sonnet 10.
The Speaker’s Urgent Plea and Accusation
The sonnet opens with a direct and forceful challenge:
For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any,
Who for thyself art so unprovident.
These lines immediately establish the speaker’s frustration. The phrase “For shame” is a strong rebuke, implying that the young man’s actions are disgraceful. To be “unprovident” means to be careless about the future, to fail to make provisions. Here, it refers to the young man’s refusal to secure his legacy through children. The speaker is not merely observing, but actively condemning the young man’s choices.
Self-Love as Self-Destruction
The poem quickly escalates its critique, suggesting that the young man’s apparent self-love is actually a form of self-destruction:
Grant, if thou wilt, thou art beloved of many,
But that thou none lovest is most evident;
For thou art so possessed with murderous hate,
That ‘gainst thyself thou stick’st not to conspire.
Here, the speaker acknowledges the young man’s charm, noting he is “beloved of many.” However, this external affection is contrasted with an internal void: “that thou none lovest is most evident.” This lack of love for others, and by extension, for the future, is shockingly equated with “murderous hate.” This is a powerful use of hyperbole, exaggerating the young man’s inaction to emphasize its gravity. The idea that he “stick’st not to conspire” against himself paints a picture of deliberate self-sabotage, as if he is actively plotting against his own well-being and the continuation of his beauty.
The Metaphor of the “Beauteous Roof”
Shakespeare employs a striking architectural metaphor to illustrate the young man’s destructive path:
Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate,
Which to repair should be thy chief desire.
The young man’s body and beauty are likened to a “beauteous roof,” a magnificent structure. To “ruinate” means to destroy or bring to ruin. By refusing to have children, the young man is metaphorically tearing down this beautiful edifice, rather than “repairing” or maintaining it through an heir. This metaphor vividly conveys the idea that his beauty is a precious asset that requires active preservation, not passive neglect. The speaker argues that the young man’s “chief desire” should be to ensure this beauty endures, not to let it decay.
A Call for Change and “Gentle Love”
The third quatrain marks a shift, moving from accusation to an earnest plea for transformation:
O, change thy thought, that I may change my mind!
Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?
Be, as thy presence is, gracious and kind,
Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove:
The exclamation “O” signals a moment of intense emotion. The speaker expresses a willingness to reconsider his harsh judgment if the young man changes his ways. The rhetorical question, “Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?” directly challenges the young man’s internal state, asking if destructive self-absorption is truly more appealing than the warmth of “gentle love” that leads to creation. The speaker urges him to align his inner disposition with his outward appearance, which is described as “gracious and kind.” The final line of this quatrain, “Or to thyself at least kind-hearted prove,” reinforces the idea that having children is an act of kindness towards himself, ensuring his own legacy.
The Concluding Plea for a “Another Self”
The sonnet concludes with a powerful couplet that encapsulates the speaker’s ultimate desire:
Make thee another self, for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine or thee.
The phrase “Make thee another self” is a direct and tender request for the young man to have a child, an heir who will be a reflection of him. The speaker adds a personal touch, saying “for love of me,” suggesting that this act would also be a gesture of affection towards the speaker. The final line clearly states the purpose: “That beauty still may live in thine or thee.” This means the beauty can live on in the young man’s offspring (“thine”) or, through that offspring, metaphorically continue to be associated with him (“thee”). This couplet serves as a poignant summary of the sonnet’s central argument for procreation as a means of immortalizing beauty.
Literary Devices in Sonnet 10: For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any
Shakespeare masterfully employs various literary devices to enhance the poem’s persuasive power and emotional depth.
- Apostrophe: The entire poem is an example of apostrophe, as the speaker directly addresses the young man, who is not expected to respond within the poem. This direct address creates an intimate and urgent tone.
- Metaphor: As explored, the young man’s body/beauty is a “beauteous roof” (line 7) that he is allowing to “ruinate” (line 7) by not having children. This comparison makes the abstract idea of legacy tangible.
- Personification: “Murderous hate” (line 5) is personified as an active force possessing the young man, driving him to “conspire” (line 6) against himself. This gives an abstract emotion a vivid, destructive agency.
- Hyperbole: The description of the young man’s self-absorption as “murderous hate” (line 5) is an exaggeration used to emphasize the severity of his refusal to procreate.
- Rhetorical Question: “Shall hate be fairer lodged than gentle love?” (line 10) is a question posed not for an answer, but to provoke thought and challenge the young man’s current mindset.
- Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds adds musicality and emphasis. Examples include “deny that thou bear’st” (line 1), “beauteous roof to ruinate” (line 7), and “change thy thought, that I may change my mind” (line 9).
Poetic Devices in Sonnet 10: For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any
The structure and form of Sonnet 10 are integral to its meaning and impact.
- Sonnet Form: Sonnet 10 is a Shakespearean, or English, sonnet. This form consists of 14 lines, typically written in iambic pentameter, and structured into three quatrains and a concluding couplet. This traditional structure provides a framework for developing an argument or idea, culminating in a resolution or summary in the final two lines.
- Iambic Pentameter: The poem is written in iambic pentameter, meaning each line generally has ten syllables, alternating between an unstressed and a stressed syllable (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). This rhythm closely mimics natural speech, making the speaker’s plea feel immediate and conversational, despite its poetic form. For example, “For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any.”
- Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. This pattern provides a sense of order and musicality, linking ideas within each quatrain and providing a strong, memorable conclusion in the couplet.
- First Quatrain (ABAB): “any” (A), “unprovident” (B), “many” (A), “evident” (B)
- Second Quatrain (CDCD): “hate” (C), “conspire” (D), “ruinate” (C), “desire” (D)
- Third Quatrain (EFEF): “mind” (E), “love” (F), “kind” (E), “prove” (F)
- Couplet (GG): “me” (G), “thee” (G)
- Quatrain Structure:
- First Quatrain (lines 1-4): Introduces the central accusation of the young man’s self-centeredness and lack of foresight, despite being admired by others.
- Second Quatrain (lines 5-8): Intensifies the criticism, portraying his refusal to procreate as an act of “murderous hate” against his own beauty, which he is allowing to be destroyed.
- Third Quatrain (lines 9-12): Shifts to a direct appeal for change, contrasting his current state with the ideal of “gentle love” and urging him to be kind to himself.
- Couplet (lines 13-14): Provides the sonnet’s resolution and ultimate plea, asking the young man to have a child (“another self”) for the speaker’s sake, ensuring his beauty’s immortality.
Key Lines from Sonnet 10
These lines powerfully encapsulate the poem’s themes and the speaker’s passionate argument:
“For shame deny that thou bear’st love to any,
Who for thyself art so unprovident.”
These opening lines immediately set the tone of urgent accusation and highlight the young man’s lack of foresight regarding his legacy.
“For thou art so possessed with murderous hate,
That ‘gainst thyself thou stick’st not to conspire.”
These verses demonstrate the extreme language used to describe the young man’s self-destructive refusal to procreate.
“Seeking that beauteous roof to ruinate,
Which to repair should be thy chief desire.”
This powerful metaphor illustrates how the young man is destroying his own potential for lasting beauty by not having children.
“Make thee another self, for love of me,
That beauty still may live in thine or thee.”
The concluding couplet presents the speaker’s ultimate solution and plea, emphasizing the preservation of beauty through an heir.
Conclusion: The Enduring Message of Sonnet 10
Sonnet 10 stands as a compelling example of Shakespeare’s ability to weave profound themes into a concise poetic form. It is not merely a poem about having children, but a deeper exploration of responsibility, self-love versus generosity, and the human desire to leave a lasting mark on the world. Through its vivid imagery, strong accusations, and heartfelt pleas, Sonnet 10 continues to resonate, prompting us to consider how we choose to preserve what is beautiful and valuable in our own lives and for future generations. It reminds us that true self-love might involve looking beyond ourselves to ensure a legacy that transcends our fleeting existence.