Shakespeare’s Sonnet 68 is a contemplation on the transient nature of beauty, the degradation of authentic grace, and the artificiality introduced by human artifice. The poem follows the structure of a Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of 14 lines, with three quatrains and a final couplet. The meter is iambic pentameter, and the rhyme scheme follows the ABABCDCDEFEFGG pattern, characteristic of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
The tone of the sonnet is melancholic and reflective, with a sense of loss and disillusionment. Shakespeare contrasts the fading of natural beauty with the rise of artificial imitations, using rich metaphors and imagery. He critiques the cultural obsession with superficial beauty, emphasizing the endurance of truth and authenticity over transient fads.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 68
Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn,
When beauty lived and died as flowers do now,
Before these bastard signs of fair were borne,
Or durst inhabit on a living brow;
Before the golden tresses of the dead,
The right of sepulchers, were shorn away
To live a second life on second head,
Ere beauty’s dead fleece made another gay.
In him those holy antique hours are seen,
Without all ornament, itself and true,
Making no summer of another’s green,
Robbing no old to dress his beauty new.
And him as for a map doth Nature store,
To show false art what beauty was of yore.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 68
As previously noted, Sonnet 68 is structured in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet, composed of three quatrains followed by a rhymed couplet. This structure allows for the progression of thought, with each quatrain developing a separate yet interconnected idea, leading to a conclusion in the final couplet.
The tone is somber and regretful. Shakespeare addresses the issue of beauty’s fleeting nature and the rise of artifice in human society. However, there is also a sense of reverence for the enduring power of natural beauty, which stands in stark contrast to the superficial, short-lived trends of beauty that plague human culture.
The sonnet reflects the theme of time’s destructive power, a common thread in Shakespeare’s works, particularly in his sonnets. This is seen in the way the poem highlights the transition from an authentic beauty to a superficial one, leaving the reader with a sense of impermanence and nostalgia for something pure and unadorned.
Analysis of Sonnet 68
Lines 1–4
“Thus is his cheek the map of days outworn,
When beauty lived and died as flowers do now,
Before these bastard signs of fair were borne,
Or durst inhabit on a living brow;”
In these opening lines, Shakespeare introduces the central metaphor: the comparison of the subject’s cheek to a “map of days outworn.” The cheek is described as a map, suggesting that it bears the marks of time, much like how a map contains traces of a land’s history. This line emphasizes that the subject’s beauty is an expression of a time gone by, a beauty that “lived and died as flowers do now”—evoking the transitory nature of physical beauty.
The term “bastard signs of fair” is particularly poignant. Here, Shakespeare uses the word “bastard” to denote something illegitimate or unnatural. He is critiquing the superficial standards of beauty that have emerged in society, which are divorced from the authentic, natural beauty that once existed. The “bastard signs” may refer to makeup, fashion trends, or other human inventions designed to enhance or alter one’s appearance.
Lines 5–8
“Before the golden tresses of the dead,
The right of sepulchers, were shorn away
To live a second life on second head,
Ere beauty’s dead fleece made another gay.”
In these lines, Shakespeare extends his critique to the practice of using human remains for adornment. The “golden tresses of the dead” likely refer to hair that was once associated with the deceased but was removed and used to create wigs for the living. The use of the word “sepulchers” underscores the connection between death and the repurposing of physical features for superficial beauty. By saying that these tresses were “shorn away,” Shakespeare alludes to the loss of something that was once sacred, as if beauty is being reduced to something trivial or even profane.
The second line, “To live a second life on second head,” speaks to the idea that beauty, once lost, is given new life but only in a superficial, transient way—hence, the second head. The phrase “beauty’s dead fleece” refers to the death of natural beauty, which is then artificially “revived” by the use of wigs and other ornaments. The line suggests that these false beautifications only mask the reality of aging and death.
Lines 9–12
“In him those holy antique hours are seen,
Without all ornament, itself and true,
Making no summer of another’s green,
Robbing no old to dress his beauty new.”
These lines provide a striking contrast to the earlier image of false adornment. Shakespeare introduces the subject as someone who embodies “those holy antique hours,” suggesting that this individual represents an older, more authentic version of beauty. The subject’s beauty is “without all ornament,” meaning it is unadorned by any artificial enhancements. This raw, unembellished beauty is described as being “itself and true,” emphasizing its purity and authenticity.
The phrase “making no summer of another’s green” is a clever metaphor. In Shakespearean poetry, “summer” often represents youth and vitality, while “green” refers to the freshness and naturalness of youth. The subject does not rely on taking from others to enhance his own beauty; instead, his beauty is self-contained and genuine, untouched by the need to rob others for personal gain. This speaks to the integrity and authenticity of the subject’s appearance, in contrast to the fraudulent beauty of those who borrow or fake youth.
Lines 13–14 (The Final Couplet)
“And him as for a map doth Nature store,
To show false art what beauty was of yore.”
The final couplet brings the poem to its philosophical conclusion. Here, Shakespeare compares the subject to a map once again, but now it is “stored by Nature” to show “false art what beauty was of yore.” The phrase “false art” alludes to the artificial practices people have developed to create beauty, such as cosmetics and fashion trends. Nature, in this case, serves as a guide, showing what true beauty was in the past, before these artificial interventions.
The couplet underscores the idea that natural beauty is eternal, even though it may be overshadowed by the temporary fads of the world. Nature itself preserves the original, unadulterated beauty as a reference for future generations. In this sense, the poem concludes on a note of reverence for authenticity and truth, while lamenting the falseness that has come to define much of human culture.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 68 reflects his deep concern with the passage of time, the impermanence of beauty, and the artificiality introduced by human culture. Through vivid imagery, rich metaphors, and a tone of melancholic reflection, the poem critiques society’s obsession with fleeting and superficial standards of beauty. Ultimately, it champions the enduring value of natural beauty and truth, suggesting that, despite the falsehoods of “art,” nature will always preserve the memory of what was once pure and authentic.
