William Shakespeare‘s Sonnet 22 is a poignant meditation on time, beauty, love, and the eternal bond between the poet and the beloved. As with many of Shakespeare’s sonnets, the poem speaks to universal themes, yet here, the poet employs the metaphor of aging and the preservation of love to convey deeper emotional truths. The poem consists of 14 lines following the Shakespearean sonnet form, composed of three quatrains and a concluding couplet. Throughout this sonnet, Shakespeare reflects on the passage of time, emphasizing the relationship between the external markers of age and the internal, immortal nature of love.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 22
My glass shall not persuade me I am old
So long as youth and thou are of one date,
But when in thee Time’s furrows I behold,
4Then look I death my days should expiate.
For all that beauty that doth cover thee
Is but the seemly raiment of my heart,
Which in thy breast doth live, as thine in me;
8How can I then be elder than thou art?
O, therefore, love, be of thyself so wary
As I not for myself but for thee will,
Bearing thy heart, which I will keep so chary
12As tender nurse her babe from faring ill.
Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain.
Thou gav’st me thine not to give back again.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 22
Structure: Shakespeare’s Sonnet 22 adheres to the traditional structure of a Shakespearean or English sonnet: three quatrains followed by a rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The poem explores both the external markers of time and age, as well as the internal, spiritual connection between the speaker and the beloved. The structure of the poem reflects the natural progression of thought, from the external view of age in the first quatrain, to a more personal and intimate reflection on love and protection in the second quatrain, and finally, a plea in the concluding couplet.
Tone: The tone of the poem is reflective, tender, and protective. The speaker, while aware of the inevitable passage of time, speaks with a deep sense of care for the beloved. There is an undercurrent of urgency, but it is not driven by fear; instead, it emerges from the desire to preserve the precious bond between the two lovers. The tone grows more serious toward the end as the speaker makes an impassioned plea to the beloved, underscoring the fragile nature of love and the responsibility one bears when giving one’s heart to another.
Analysis of Sonnet 22
Lines 1–4
“My glass shall not persuade me I am old
So long as youth and thou are of one date,
But when in thee Time’s furrows I behold,
Then look I death my days should expiate.”
In the first quatrain, the speaker introduces the metaphor of a “glass,” which can be interpreted as both a mirror and a symbol of time’s passage. The poet declares that the mere reflection of age will not convince him that he is old, as long as the beloved’s youth and vitality remain intact. “Youth and thou are of one date” suggests that the speaker sees himself and the beloved as bound by time in a mutual relationship. The reference to “Time’s furrows” evokes the image of age as a weathered landscape on the beloved’s face. This marks a turning point in the poem, where the poet links the aging process of the beloved to his own mortality. The mention of “death” hints at the ultimate end of life, suggesting that the speaker’s sense of self is intertwined with the beloved’s vitality. This recognition of death prompts the speaker to contemplate the potential expiration of his own days, driven by the beloved’s aging.
Lines 5–8
“For all that beauty that doth cover thee
Is but the seemly raiment of my heart,
Which in thy breast doth live, as thine in me;
How can I then be elder than thou art?”
The second quatrain shifts to a more intimate and philosophical reflection on beauty and love. The speaker argues that the beloved’s beauty, though outwardly impressive, is only the external covering or “raiment” of a deeper connection: the speaker’s heart, which metaphorically “lives” in the beloved’s breast. This profound emotional and spiritual connection makes the passage of time irrelevant, for if the speaker’s heart resides in the beloved, and vice versa, how can the speaker ever be older than the beloved? This bond transcends physical age. The poet suggests that true beauty lies not in the fleeting appearance, but in the enduring love that lives within both individuals. Age, therefore, cannot truly affect their relationship.
Lines 9–12
“O, therefore, love, be of thyself so wary
As I not for myself but for thee will,
Bearing thy heart, which I will keep so chary
As tender nurse her babe from faring ill.”
The third quatrain reveals the speaker’s deep sense of responsibility toward the beloved. The speaker warns the beloved to be cautious with their heart, for the speaker is so devoted to their well-being that they will guard it fiercely. The metaphor of a “tender nurse” caring for a vulnerable infant emphasizes the fragility of love and the speaker’s protective instincts. The image evokes tenderness and vulnerability, further underlining the intensity of the speaker’s feelings. In a sense, the speaker is not merely protective of his own heart, but of the beloved’s heart as well. This sense of mutual care for one another’s emotions solidifies the idea that love is a shared and protective force, transcending physical age or time.
Lines 13–14 (Couplet)
“Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain.
Thou gav’st me thine not to give back again.”
The concluding couplet serves as a final plea, emphasizing the speaker’s commitment and the seriousness of the bond between the two lovers. The phrase “Presume not on thy heart when mine is slain” indicates that the speaker will not take the beloved’s heart for granted, as his own heart has already been given irrevocably. The speaker implores the beloved to understand that their love is a sacred gift, not something that can be returned or withdrawn. The final line, “Thou gav’st me thine not to give back again,” reinforces the permanence of this emotional exchange. The poem ends on a note of finality, suggesting that love, once given, should not be casually returned or discarded.
Conclusion
Sonnet 22 is a meditation on time, love, and the fragility of human existence. Through its tender, yet urgent, tone, Shakespeare explores the idea that love transcends physical beauty and aging, becoming a deeper, more spiritual connection between two people. The speaker’s warning and protective love serve as a reminder of the enduring power of the emotional and spiritual bond between the poet and the beloved, which remains undisturbed by the passage of time. In this sonnet, Shakespeare reinforces the notion that true love is eternal, even in the face of inevitable mortality.
