"So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee." These iconic rhyming couplet lines conclude William Shakespeare's famous "Sonnet-XVIII", celebrating the enduring power of verse over time.
Context of the Final Couplet in Sonnet 18
These are the concluding lines of "Sonnet-XVIII" composed by William Shakespeare, the famous dramatist and poet of the Elizabethan period. These lines suggest the immortality of the fair youth as well as the pride and confi ce of the speaker.
In these lines the speaker has rounded up what he has said in the other twelve lines of the poem. The beauty of the fair youth is better than that of a summer's day for several reasons. Rough winds blow and destroy the blooming roses in summer. It is short and its temperature changes frequently.
Pro Tip: Compare this celebration of verse with other Renaissance poetry, such as Edmund Spenser's lines in And happy lines, on which with starry light, which also reflects on the relationship between poetic pages and the beloved.
Why Does the Poet Contrast Nature with Poetry?
Not only a day in summer but also all the beautiful things of nature are subject to mutability. But the beauty of the friend is not subject to any change or destruction. It is permanent and everlasting. It is made immortal by the power of poetry.
| Aspect | A Summer's Day | The Fair Youth (in the Poem) |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Short-lived; changes frequently | Permanent and everlasting |
| Vulnerability | Rough winds destroy blooming roses | Not subject to destruction |
| Ultimate Fate | Subject to mutability and decay | Defeats time through poetic immortality |
The Victory Over Time and Mutability
As long as human beings will be on earth, and as long as they will read this poem, the friend's beauty will be remembered and he will continue to live in the hearts of the readers. Thus, in these lines the enmity of time and the law of mutability have been defeated and the beauty of the friend has been immortalised.
These lines also reflect the pride and commence of the speaker for his capability of making his friend immortal. The speaker's boasting of his capability seems to be peculiar but it was the tradition of the Elizabethan period.
Key Takeaways
- The rhyming couplet serves as the conclusion to Shakespeare's "Sonnet-XVIII".
- Nature remains subject to change, decay, and short seasons, whereas the friend's beauty is preserved.
- Through the power of poetry, the subject's memory outlasts mortality as long as readers exist.
- The assertive tone reflects common poetic conventions of the Elizabethan period.
Quick Practice
In the comment section below, answer these quick questions:
- According to the poet, what condition allows "this" to keep giving life to the youth?
- Why does Shakespeare consider the friend's beauty superior to a summer's day?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "this" refer to in "So long lives this, and this gives life to thee"?
In this final couplet, "this" refers directly to the sonnet itself. By being read across generations, the poem preserves the memory and beauty of the friend forever.
What poetic era does this sonnet represent?
This couplet represents the Elizabethan period, a literary era where poets frequently celebrated the permanence of verse and its triumph over time and mutability.