William Shakespeare‘s Sonnet 56 is a profound meditation on the nature of love, emphasizing its impermanence and the need for renewal. Through the poet‘s careful use of structure, metaphor, and nuanced emotional appeals, the sonnet explores the tension between passion and its inevitable decline. The theme of this sonnet revolves around the idea that love, if not constantly revived and refreshed, risks fading into stagnation or dullness. In this essay, we will analyze the structure, tone, and specific lines of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 56 to fully appreciate the depth and sophistication of the poet’s message.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 56
Sweet love, renew thy force. Be it not said
Thy edge should blunter be than appetite,
Which but today by feeding is allayed,
Tomorrow sharpened in his former might.
So, love, be thou. Although today thou fill
Thy hungry eyes even till they wink with fullness,
Tomorrow see again, and do not kill
The spirit of love with a perpetual dullness.
Let this sad int’rim like the ocean be
Which parts the shore where two contracted new
Come daily to the banks, that, when they see
Return of love, more blessed may be the view.
Or call it winter, which being full of care
Makes summer’s welcome, thrice more wished, more rare.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 56
Sonnet 56 follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of 14 lines divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is typical of Shakespeare’s sonnets. This structure offers a balance between thematic development and resolution, allowing the poem to explore a problem or dilemma and conclude with an insight or solution.
The tone of Sonnet 56 is one of urgency and plea. Shakespeare addresses love directly, urging it to renew itself and to avoid the dullness that comes with time. At the same time, there is a sense of melancholy and wistfulness, as the poet reflects on the inevitable cycles of desire, satiation, and eventual staleness. The tone shifts slightly between frustration with the passing of time and a hopeful longing for the return of passion, much like the seasonal cycles that Shakespeare references in his metaphors.
Analysis of Sonnet 56
Lines 1–4
“Sweet love, renew thy force. Be it not said
Thy edge should blunter be than appetite,
Which but today by feeding is allayed,
Tomorrow sharpened in his former might.”
In the opening lines, Shakespeare immediately introduces the central theme: the need for love to “renew thy force.” Love, in this case, is likened to a sharpness, akin to appetite or desire, that must not lose its intensity. The comparison to appetite suggests that love, like hunger, is constantly active and requires periodic renewal to maintain its strength. The image of appetite being “allayed” by feeding, but “sharpened” again the next day, reinforces the cyclical nature of love, which is never static. This suggests that love, like hunger, is a perpetual cycle of satisfaction and desire, and to avoid stagnation, it must continually be refreshed.
Lines 5–8
“So, love, be thou. Although today thou fill
Thy hungry eyes even till they wink with fullness,
Tomorrow see again, and do not kill
The spirit of love with a perpetual dullness.”
In these lines, the poet entreats love to persist in its vitality. Shakespeare personifies love as something that “fills” the eyes with fullness, perhaps alluding to the physical satisfaction and contentment one might feel when in the presence of a beloved. However, the poet cautions against letting this fulfillment lead to a “perpetual dullness.” The word “dullness” here suggests a lack of passion or renewal, indicating that love must not rest in complacency. The poet is urging for a continued, dynamic force of love that keeps it fresh and intense, preventing it from becoming mundane or lifeless.
Lines 9–12
“Let this sad int’rim like the ocean be
Which parts the shore where two contracted new
Come daily to the banks, that, when they see
Return of love, more blessed may be the view.”
Shakespeare uses the metaphor of the ocean to represent a “sad interim” or temporary separation. The ocean is both a barrier and a reminder of the distance between two lovers, but its presence makes their reunion more poignant. The lovers are “contracted new,” a phrase that suggests a recent or renewed commitment, and the ocean metaphor emphasizes how the brief separation increases the anticipation and joy of their eventual reunion. This idea of distance, both physical and emotional, underscores the necessity of absence in maintaining the desire and intensity of love. Shakespeare suggests that the separation, while sad, makes the return of love even more cherished and “blessed.”
Lines 13–14
“Or call it winter, which being full of care
Makes summer’s welcome, thrice more wished, more rare.”
The final couplet presents another seasonal metaphor, this time comparing the separation to winter. Winter, a season often associated with coldness, barrenness, and emotional hardship, is juxtaposed with the warmth and vitality of summer. Just as the harshness of winter makes the arrival of summer more anticipated and treasured, so too does the temporary absence of love make its return more precious. The phrase “thrice more wished, more rare” suggests that the rarity and desirability of love are heightened by its temporary withdrawal. Shakespeare concludes the sonnet by suggesting that love, much like the seasons, thrives on cycles of absence and presence, loss and renewal.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 56 presents a masterful exploration of the transient nature of love and the need for periodic renewal to keep it alive. Through the use of rich metaphors—comparing love to appetite, the ocean, and the seasons—Shakespeare conveys the idea that love, to remain potent and passionate, must avoid complacency and stagnation. The sonnet reflects the poet’s belief in the cyclical nature of desire and affection, emphasizing that absence, rather than being a threat to love, can actually heighten its intensity and value. In this way, Sonnet 56 serves as both a meditation on the fragility of love and a plea for its constant revival, ensuring that love remains as dynamic and fervent as the passions it seeks to describe.
