Figurative Language in Shakespeare’s “That Time of Year Thou Mayst in me Behold”
Shakespeare is a master of imagery and the use of figurative expressions in literary works. In his 73rd Sonnet “That Time of Year Thou Mayst in me Behold,” Shakespeare uses figurative language coupled with imagery to portray a speaker’s mounting anxiety over aging. The speaker speaks to his beloved; characterizing what he believes to be advancing old age by comparing it with nature. The speaker paints a different picture of the different seasons of autumn and fall as he advances to old age; making a figurative comparison between the changing seasons and his stage in life. The speaker imagines the fall season as a sign of winter and death, rather than seeing it …show more content…
(Howe, p.12).
Metaphors have been used in this sonnet to talk about certain things as though they were some other thing; to enhance the meaning. The tenet expression in the entire sonnet is the speaker’s coming to terms, gradually, with the looming reality of his old age. The poem is really about the insubstantiality of time; which seems to pass too quickly for the speaker (Howe, 7). The speaker aptly and metaphorically represents old age as represented by the season of autumn or fall.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses three primary metaphors as imagery; age, fire, and death. The objective is to portray that human life is beautiful, desirable and attractive before death. The speaker also presents death figuratively as nighttime and life as the light of day “Which by and by black night doth take away death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.” These are befitting depictions presented figuratively; given the properties possessed by day time and night time. The speaker alludes to death as the fading of a bright day and dying as the setting in of darkness in a
Shakespeare is a master of imagery and the use of figurative expressions in literary works. In his 73rd Sonnet “That Time of Year Thou Mayst in me Behold,” Shakespeare uses figurative language coupled with imagery to portray a speaker’s mounting anxiety over aging. The speaker speaks to his beloved; characterizing what he believes to be advancing old age by comparing it with nature. The speaker paints a different picture of the different seasons of autumn and fall as he advances to old age; making a figurative comparison between the changing seasons and his stage in life. The speaker imagines the fall season as a sign of winter and death, rather than seeing it …show more content…
(Howe, p.12).
Metaphors have been used in this sonnet to talk about certain things as though they were some other thing; to enhance the meaning. The tenet expression in the entire sonnet is the speaker’s coming to terms, gradually, with the looming reality of his old age. The poem is really about the insubstantiality of time; which seems to pass too quickly for the speaker (Howe, 7). The speaker aptly and metaphorically represents old age as represented by the season of autumn or fall.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses three primary metaphors as imagery; age, fire, and death. The objective is to portray that human life is beautiful, desirable and attractive before death. The speaker also presents death figuratively as nighttime and life as the light of day “Which by and by black night doth take away death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.” These are befitting depictions presented figuratively; given the properties possessed by day time and night time. The speaker alludes to death as the fading of a bright day and dying as the setting in of darkness in a