Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest by William Shakespeare
Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest,
Now is the time that thou must take a pause,
For beauty in thy flesh must now be seen,
Or else it will decay as time does not.
Who will take heed and guard the shining light,
Who will keep the line for future generations?
If thou neglect the task that is in sight,
Thy beauty will be lost in mortal hands.
Thou art thy mother’s mirror and she in thee,
Calls back the golden spring of her prime;
So thou through years of age shalt see, despite
Of age’s roughness, this thy golden time.
But if thou live remembered not to be,
Die single, and thine image dies with thee.
Summary of Sonnet 3
- Understanding “Sonnet 3”: William Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 3,” part of his renowned sequence of 154 sonnets published in 1609, is a persuasive plea urging a young man of great beauty to marry and procreate. The poem grapples with themes of time, beauty, mortality, and the importance of legacy.
- Central Idea: The Perpetuation of Beauty: At its heart, “Sonnet 3” explores the fleeting nature of beauty and the desire to ensure its continuation. Shakespeare argues that the young man has a duty to reproduce, not merely to satisfy personal desire, but to preserve his beauty for future generations. The poem suggests that beauty, like life, is transient, and procreation is the means by which it transcends mortality.
- A Poem of Persuasion and Duty: This sonnet is not simply an aesthetic observation; it is a deliberate attempt to convince the young man of his responsibility. Shakespeare appeals to his sense of duty, suggesting that to remain childless is to deny the world beauty and to deprive a potential mother of a beautiful child.
Analysis of Sonnet 3
An Initial Appeal to Self‑Reflection
The poem begins with a direct address, commanding the young man to “Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest.” This isn’t a casual observation; it’s an imperative, urging him to contemplate his own beauty and its inevitable decline. The mirror serves as a symbol of self‑awareness, forcing him to confront his own mortality. Shakespeare immediately establishes the central argument: this beauty will not last forever.
The Urgency of Reproduction
The following lines build on this urgency: “Now is the time that face should form another, / Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest, / Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother.” Shakespeare doesn’t simply suggest procreation; he presents it as a moral obligation. To delay is to “beguile the world,” to deny it the continuation of beauty, and to “unbless some mother”—depriving her of the gift of a beautiful child. The phrase “fresh repair” is particularly effective; it suggests that procreation isn’t just about creating something new, but about restoring what will inevitably be lost to time.
Rhetorical Questions & Appeals to Logic
Shakespeare skillfully employs rhetorical questions to challenge the young man’s potential objections: “For where is she so fair whose uneared womb / Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry? / Or who is he so fond will be the tomb / Of his self-love, to stop posterity?” These aren’t questions demanding answers; they are persuasive arguments. The imagery of “tillage” and “husbandry” evokes the natural order of things, while the comparison to becoming the “tomb of his self‑love” presents a stark warning against vanity and selfishness. The phrase “stop posterity” powerfully highlights the consequences of remaining childless – the extinguishing of a lineage.
The Mirror of Generations
The poem takes a more evocative turn in lines 9‑12: “Thou art thy mother’s glass, and she in thee / Calls back the lovely April of her prime; / So thou through windows of thine age shalt see, / Despite of wrinkles, this thy golden time.” Here, Shakespeare introduces the concept of generational mirroring. The young man is his mother’s reflection, and his children will, in turn, reflect him. This cyclical imagery underscores the continuity of beauty and the power of procreation to defy time. “April of her prime” is a beautiful metaphor, associating the mother with the blossoming of youth and vitality. The “windows of thine age” suggest that even as the young man ages, he can find renewal and joy in seeing his beauty reflected in his children.
A Stark Warning & Final Plea
The sonnet culminates in a powerful couplet: “But if thou live rememb’red not to be, / Die single, and thine image dies with thee.” This is a stark warning, a direct consequence of refusing to procreate. To remain childless is to condemn one’s beauty to oblivion, to ensure that one’s “image dies” with one’s physical body. The finality of these words emphasizes the urgency of Shakespeare’s plea. It’s not simply about preserving beauty; it’s about achieving a form of immortality through legacy.
Literary and Poetic Devices
- Metaphor: The entire poem functions as an extended metaphor, comparing the young man to a blossoming flower that must seed to continue its beauty.
- Imagery: Shakespeare uses vivid imagery throughout, particularly involving mirrors, flowers, and seasons, to create a rich sensory experience for the reader.
- Rhetorical Questions: As analyzed above, rhetorical questions are a key persuasive technique.
- Personification: “April of her prime” personifies the season, associating it with youth and beauty.
- Iambic Pentameter: The poem is written in iambic pentameter, creating a rhythmic flow that enhances its musicality and memorability. For example: “Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest.”
- Couplet: The final couplet delivers a powerful conclusion, summarizing the poem’s central message.
- Alliteration: Notice the repetition of consonant sounds, like in “fresh repair” and “stop posterity”, adding to the poem’s musicality.
Key Takeaways and Application
“Sonnet 3” is more than just a beautiful poem; it’s a profound meditation on beauty, time, and the human desire for legacy. While the poem’s specific context is rooted in the conventions of Renaissance love poetry, its themes are universal and continue to resonate with readers today. The poem’s elegant use of language and persuasive techniques serve as a model for effective communication and argumentation. The lines concerning legacy and mortality can be used to inspire reflection on the meaning of life and the importance of leaving a lasting impact on the world.