Shakespeare's Sonnet 55: Alliteration and Love

            William Shakespeare’s sonnet 55:

                        Not marble, nor the gilded monuments

                        Of princes, shall outlive this powerful rhyme;

                        But you shall shine more bright in these contents

                        Than unswept stone, besmeared with sluttish time.

                        When wasteful war shall statues overturn,

                        And broils root out the work of masonry

                        Nor Mars his sword nor war’s quick fire shall burn

The living record of your memory.

‘Gainst death and all-oblivious enmity

Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room

Even in the eyes of all posterity

That wear this world out to the ending doom.

                                    So, till the judgment that yourself arise,

                                    You live in this, and dwell in lovers’ eyes.

includes elements of alliteration, such as “wasteful war,” “shall statues,” “Even in the eyes,” and “wear this world.”  Shakespeare’s rhyme scheme is abab cdcd efef gg.  For example, “monuments” rhymes with “contents,” for the a  and “overturn” rhymes with “burn,” for the c, and “rhyme” rhymes with “time” for the b.  Also, “memory” rhymes with “masonry” for the d, and “enmity” rhymes with “posterity” for the e. Also, “room” rhymes with “doom” for the f, and “arise” rhymes with “eyes” for the g.

            The imagery of Shakespeare’s 55^th sonnet includes the dirt and grime of time polluting the natural beauty of marble and gold.  There are the images of stones, swords, fire, and battles.

The speaker states it not possible for “monuments/ Of princes” to “outlive this powerful rhyme.”  He claims that battles and wars shall destroy human architecture.  However, “the living record of your memory” shall survive.  The speaker informs the reader that they shall “pace forth” against death and forgotten enemies.  The speaker claims, “your praise shall still find room.”  Possibly, the person for whom this sonnet is intended is strong since he/she can move forward against death, and since the person is deserving of praise.

The speaker also provides hope of returning to life after death on Judgment Day, but until Judgment Day arrives the reader must live in the mortal world which is impermanent and cannot withstand the tests of time.  Also, the reader must be satisfied with dwelling “in lovers’ eyes.”  It may be that the reader is loved by many since “lovers’” is plural.  It may also be that the reader or the sonnet itself shall be remembered and appreciated throughout time since the speaker states, “Even in the eyes of all posterity.”  Future generations may look back with loving eyes upon the person for whom the sonnet is intended or upon the sonnet itself.  However, I do not see how the sonnet can arise on Judgment Day, so the speaker must be speaking to an intended individual. Perhaps, this is the young man described in the Shakespeare biographical section of the text.