Although, in contrast, sonnet 19 destroys an existing literal image of the immortality of the Phoenix to further impact his point within the couplet. This is shown by “burn the long-liv’d phoenix”. This substantially breaks down the boundaries within literature that such a significant symbol could be broken and a new one created. This imagery creates such an insightful view of how the man feels and although this is similar to the idea of sonnet 63 the impact of this furthers his opinions.
The use of colour within the sonnet creates the sense of how age is changing us and how it cannot be tainted. The use of “black…green” creates the picture of black being dark and a colour which is heavily associated with death. This shows the Young Man will actually stay “green” meaning he will stay youthful and living. Also like spring’s association with the colour green, will be there, immortally, as the season’s change the colour green will be seen again. However, the black shows that it simply will not live on as black is not usually seen naturally, as it is not a colour of living. Black, gives the sense of rotting and something far from immortal. This paradox of colour also suggests that the green of life will be preserved within the black writing. Therefore emphasising the complexity of the speakers’ opinions and how much this thought of immortality has been planned out.
A feature which can be said to show the way in which the speakers’ opinions are a most relevant aspect is in the way little punctuation is used within the sonnet. This feature shows the relentlessness of the argument as it by including only one full stop within the entire sonnet and therefore not making a break. This shows the speed of time, ever dawning and creeping up on us restlessly illustrating that there is no time to look back and contemplate what you have done in your life. This is the main reason why his beauty needs to be recorded as there is not time to work out another way in which to preserve the Young Man.
Sonnet 63 is a sonnet rich with imagery, with many different pictures to help us grasp the idea of how time is being taken away from us. Personification of time, within this sonnet creates a powerful image “Time’s injurious hand”. The idea that time being a hand makes the idea of time more vigorous and that the threat the speaker is making, about time, so much more vivid. The effect of this idea is that it makes us, the reader, aware of the emphasis with which the speaker wishes to put forward his ideas. The imagery used is to clarify exactly what the speakers’ message; that time is a very powerful thing and that it will overpower everyone. This idea is real and that is why the impact of this personification is much more effective.
A critic felt the image of “time’s injurious hand” is not the only reference to time portrayed throughout the sonnet and that every single line had a reference to time. If we look more closely we can indicate this “Against…Time’s…hours…with lines and wrinkles…age’s steepy night…now”. As we can see the idea that the critic proved correct shows the stark message about time that the speaker was trying to achieve. Therefore emphasising my previous point about “Time’s injurious hand”. How it can be accurately said, that the speaker believes, that the idea of time and death are a main factor in his opinions. I feel that this opinion strategically shows the speakers’ views and methods; it illuminates his concerns significantly, but also sets a particular style as to how the speaker wishes to express these concerns.
The idea of using lots of imagery and references to time is a popular method within Shakespeare’s sonnets. As within sonnet 19 we can also identify an imagery rich sonnet by “Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger’s jaws” along with another 10 parts of imagery within the sonnet. The image created gives the suggestion that time can be so powerful that it could take away the strength of animals we would not dare to touch. A “tiger” is a powerful animal that humans look at but would never touch as it could easily kill anyone. Therefore the idea of the speaker taking this image and destroying it shows the sheer intensity of what time can do.
Although in saying this not all of the sonnets completely grasp this idea; sonnet 53 contains the idea that the Young Man is almost so perfect, that no one could even attempt to defeat him. This is identified by “But you like none, none you, for constant heart”. This idea contrasts completely with the argument I am making; that the speaker believes that time will take over and literature is the only way to preserve life. The idea Shakespeare is trying to put forward in 53 is that the Young Man is the ‘beloved’ which is a unique being that casts beauty on everyone. This idea would make the Young Man seem too perfect; that no one could stop him not even time but the other sonnets show the reality of time that it will actually affect him.
However, it could be said that the effect of the speaker doing this was to suggest a sense of irony. The speaker has to say something complimentary about the young man, as he is getting paid for doing this but this emphasis on his beauty would appear slightly tainted. So this comparison would appear only so significant because the speaker is showing his views too much. If we look deeper beyond the surface we can see this is not just what he meant. Although some would say this sonnet is sincere, I believe that this sonnet is in such contrast to the rest it is almost false.
A technique which can be seen within sonnet 63 is the idea of a structure within the sonnet. I believe this structure is linked to the content of each of the quatrains, so the first is destruction then loss then preparation or protection. This method of structuring the sonnet clarifies the ways in which the speaker wishes his opinions to be perceived. He feels that there is the destruction of time, then the loss of death, then you begin the preparation or protection of your own death. As the idea of death was more familiar at the time of Shakespeare, it is therefore not a surprise that this is a main factor of his opinions. It was not unusual for most people to be dead by about the age of forty.
Throughout this sonnet we can identify that the idea of time becomes increasingly more positive throughout. This is indicated by “With time’s injurious hand…Against confounding age”. This shows a significant change in tone. As previously the word “with” was used therefore showing that it was happening now and that it is not going to be escaped. However, the word “Against” is used in the last quatrain because it shows that time is being defeated. This shows the positive change in tone from one part of the sonnet to another.
In comparison sonnet 30 also makes a positive resolution about time within the couplet at the end. This is identified by “All losses are restor’d, and sorrows end”. This shows, that time is not so almighty that you cannot have a resolution to defeat it. It allows for the idea that something positive could possibly be achieved from something so terribly negative.
Although the sonnets are different, as in sonnet 30 the speaker is only feeling positive as he has just repaid a debt to a friend. This debt will have to be repaid again, however, as this positive feeling within the sonnet will not last forever. He feels the debt of sorrow which he is repaying can only be cancelled out by his friend. However, the positive attitude within sonnet 63 is because he has managed to immortalise the Young Man within the sonnet. Therefore the positive feeling he has achieved will be more long lasting as he has given the Young Man the ultimate compliment as he is now immortalised.
To draw all of these ideas together it would be unfair to conclude that there is only one substantial method or concern that the speaker or Shakespeare expresses. It can be clearly shown that methods such as imagery, structure, references to time and specific words suggest how the speakers’ concerns are expressed. Although there is no correct way to decide what exactly the speaker wanted us to understand from this sonnet I believe time was his main concern. I feel this for several reasons, firstly, time is obviously destroying everyone and is a very destructive force, most importantly time is destroying the Young Man and this is Shakespeare’s source of wealth. If the Young Man is destroyed then Shakespeare will have no wealth or a source of income. This, I feel is his main concern. Although he may have some concern for his beauty, his main concern, I feel is for himself and that without the Young Man he has nothing.
