ere we will discuss Shakespeare’s use of imagery and symbols below.
Autumn as the Symbol of Old Age: The first image in the poem is late autumn. Shakespeare says his beloved can see autumn in him.
“That time of year thou mayst in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang.”
Autumn is the time when the leaves of trees turn yellow and fall. The empty branches shake in the cold. This image shows that the poet is in his old age. Just like a tree that has lost most of its leaves, the poet has lost his youth and strength. The branches of the tree shake in the cold wind. It symbolizes weakness and the coming of winter. Winter stands for death.
The poet also uses the phrase “bare ruin’d choirs.” It means old, empty church buildings where birds once sang. This symbol shows life has become quiet and empty with age.
Twilight as the Symbol of Life Fading: The second image is twilight, the time just after sunset. The poet says his beloved can see twilight in him.
“In me thou see’st the twilight…”
Here, the poet compares his life to the evening time. The sun has already gone down. The last light is fading in the west. Soon, night will come. “Black night” here stands for death. It brings darkness and eternal rest. So, the image of twilight symbolizes that the poet’s life is fading. The day (youth) is gone, and only a small light remains. Here, life is like a day: it begins in the morning and ends with night.
Dying Fire as the Symbol of the Last Stage of Life: The third image is of a dying fire that is burning weakly on its own ashes. The poet compares himself to a dying fire. He says,
“In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie.”
Fire stands for life and energy. When young, the fire was bright and strong. Now, in old age, only a few sparks remain. The fire burns on the ashes of its own youth. This dying fire is a powerful symbol of the last stage of human life. The ashes symbolize the past energy of life.
The Final Message: Autumn, twilight, and dying fire, each symbol expresses the idea that time is passing. The poet is old and near his death. However, the poem does not end in sadness. The poet says that when his beloved sees old age and death in him, the beloved’s love for him becomes stronger.
“This thou perceiv'st, which makes thy love more strong.”
The beloved will know that their time together is short. This is why the beloved will love the poet even deeply. So, the poem gives a clear message: true love grows deeper when we know time is short.
In fine, Shakespeare uses simple images from nature to express aging and death. Autumn shows old age, twilight shows the fading of life, and the dying fire shows the nearness of death. These symbols make the poem emotional and unforgettable.
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