Sonnet 19

Sonnet 19: Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion’s paws

by William Shakespeare

Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion’s paws,
And make the earth devour her own sweet brood;
Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger’s jaws,
And burn the long lived Phoenix in her blood;
Make glad and sorry seasons as thou flees,
And do whatever thou wilt, swift footed Time,
To the wide world and all her fading sweets;
But I forbid thee one more heinous crime:
O, carve not with thy hours my love’s fair brow,
Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen!
Him in thy course untainted do allow
For beauty’s pattern to succeeding men.
Yet do thy worst, old Time! Despite thy wrong
My love shall in my verse ever live young.

Unveiling Sonnet 19: A Battle Against Time

Welcome to a profound exploration of William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 19,” a powerful and defiant poem that grapples with the relentless march of time and the enduring power of art. This sonnet is a vibrant meditation on beauty, youth, and the poet’s audacious claim to immortality through verse. It stands as a testament to the human desire to preserve what is cherished against the inevitable forces of decay.

Sonnet 19 Summary: The Poet’s Defiance

At its heart, “Sonnet 19” presents Time as a formidable, destructive force capable of eroding even the mightiest creatures and natural wonders. The speaker grants Time permission to wreak havoc on the natural world, to diminish strength and beauty everywhere else. However, a dramatic shift occurs as the speaker issues a stern command: Time must spare the beloved’s youthful beauty. The central idea is a bold declaration that while Time may conquer all else, the poet’s verse possesses the unique ability to immortalize the beloved, ensuring their beauty remains untarnished for future generations. This sonnet is a pivotal piece within Shakespeare’s collection, showcasing his recurring theme of art’s triumph over mortality, particularly in preserving the beauty of the Fair Youth.

In-Depth Sonnet 19 Analysis: A Closer Look at Shakespeare’s Craft

The Personification of Time: A Destructive Force

Shakespeare immediately establishes Time as an active, almost monstrous entity. The opening lines vividly portray Time as a predator, a “Devouring Time” that diminishes strength and vitality. Observe how the speaker addresses Time directly, granting it immense power over the natural world:

Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion’s paws,
And make the earth devour her own sweet brood;
Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger’s jaws,
And burn the long lived Phoenix in her blood;

These powerful verbs—”blunt,” “devour,” “pluck,” “burn”—reinforce Time’s ruthless and destructive nature, stripping power from even the most majestic and mythical creatures. Time is not merely a concept but a character with agency, capable of inflicting physical change and decay.

The Volta: A Dramatic Turn and Direct Challenge

The poem builds a sense of Time’s overwhelming power, but a dramatic turning point, known as the volta, arrives in the ninth line. Here, the speaker shifts from acknowledging Time’s destructive capabilities to issuing a direct, defiant command:

But I forbid thee one more heinous crime:
O, carve not with thy hours my love’s fair brow,
Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen!

This “But” signals a profound change in tone and purpose. The speaker, who previously allowed Time free rein, now draws a line in the sand. The imagery of Time as a sculptor, using “hours” to “carve” wrinkles and an “antique pen” to “draw lines” on the beloved’s brow, is particularly striking. It transforms the abstract concept of aging into a tangible, artistic act of defacement, which the poet vehemently opposes.

The Power of Verse: Immortality Through Art

The sonnet culminates in a powerful declaration of art’s ability to transcend physical decay. The speaker expresses a profound belief that his poetry can preserve the beloved’s beauty, making it an eternal standard:

Him in thy course untainted do allow
For beauty’s pattern to succeeding men.

The poet envisions the beloved’s image, captured in verse, serving as a timeless example of beauty for all future generations. The final couplet delivers the ultimate challenge and triumph:

Yet do thy worst, old Time! Despite thy wrong
My love shall in my verse ever live young.

This concluding statement is a bold assertion of the poet’s confidence in the written word. It declares that even if Time physically ravages the beloved, the essence of their youth and beauty will remain perpetually vibrant within the lines of the poem. Art, in this view, offers a unique form of immortality, defying the very forces that govern the natural world.

Literary and Poetic Devices in Sonnet 19

Shakespeare masterfully employs a range of literary and poetic devices to convey the poem’s powerful themes and emotional depth. Understanding these elements enriches the appreciation of “Sonnet 19.”

Literary Devices

• Personification: Time is extensively personified throughout the poem, treated as a living, active entity with destructive capabilities. Examples include “Devouring Time,” “blunt thou the lion’s paws,” “Pluck the keen teeth,” and “carve not with thy hours.” This device makes an abstract concept tangible and adversarial.
• Apostrophe: The speaker directly addresses Time as if it were a person capable of hearing and responding. The entire sonnet is essentially an extended apostrophe to “swift footed Time” and “old Time,” creating a direct confrontation between the poet and this powerful force.
• Metaphor: Several metaphors enrich the poem. Time is metaphorically compared to a sculptor or artist who “carves” lines and “draws” wrinkles on the brow. Beauty is implicitly a “pattern” or standard.
• Hyperbole: The speaker uses exaggeration to emphasize Time’s destructive power, suggesting it can “burn the long lived Phoenix in her blood.” This overstatement highlights the immense challenge the poet faces.
• Antithesis: A striking contrast is drawn between Time’s destructive power over the physical world and the enduring power of the poet’s verse. The first quatrains detail Time’s ravages, while the final couplet asserts the poem’s ability to keep “My love… ever live young.”
• Allusion: The mention of the “Phoenix” alludes to the mythical bird that regenerates from ashes. By stating that Time can even “burn the long lived Phoenix in her blood,” the poet emphasizes Time’s ultimate power, making the subsequent defiance even more impactful.

Poetic Devices

• Form: “Sonnet 19” is a classic Shakespearean sonnet, also known as an English sonnet. It consists of fourteen lines written in iambic pentameter, typically structured into three quatrains and a concluding couplet.
• Meter: The poem is predominantly written in iambic pentameter, meaning each line generally contains ten syllables, alternating unstressed and stressed beats. For example, in the line “Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion’s paws,” the rhythm follows this pattern: de-VOUR-ing TIME, blunt THOU the LI-on’s PAWS. This consistent rhythm gives the poem a natural, conversational yet elevated tone.
• Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme of “Sonnet 19” adheres to the traditional Shakespearean pattern: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
  • A: paws
  • B: brood
  • A: jaws
  • B: blood
  • C: flees
  • D: Time
  • C: sweets
  • D: crime
  • E: brow
  • F: pen
  • E: allow
  • F: men
  • G: wrong
  • G: young

  This structure helps to organize the poem’s arguments and build towards the conclusive statement in the couplet.

• Enjambment: The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, such as in “Make glad and sorry seasons as thou flees, / And do whatever thou wilt, swift footed Time,” creates a sense of flow and urgency, mimicking the relentless movement of Time itself.
• Caesura: Pauses within lines, often marked by punctuation, add emphasis and rhythmic variation. For example, “Yet do thy worst, old Time! Despite thy wrong” uses a caesura after “Time!” to create a dramatic pause before the final defiant statement.
• Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds, as in “swift footed Time” or “fading sweets,” adds musicality and emphasis to certain phrases.

The Enduring Legacy of Sonnet 19

“Sonnet 19” remains a powerful and resonant poem, exemplifying Shakespeare’s genius in exploring universal themes. Through its vivid imagery, compelling personification of Time, and masterful use of poetic devices, the poem offers a profound meditation on the fleeting nature of beauty and the enduring power of artistic creation. It stands as a testament to the poet’s belief that while all physical things must yield to Time’s destructive hand, the essence of beauty and love can achieve a unique form of immortality within the carefully crafted lines of verse. This sonnet continues to inspire and challenge readers, reminding us of the timeless human desire to preserve what we cherish most.