Poem Analysis - Sonnet 11 As Fast As Thou Shalt Wane So Fast Thou Growst

A Plea for Procreation: Introduction to Shakespeare's Sonnet 11

Shakespeare's Sonnet 11 is a persuasive argument for procreation, masked in the elegant language of the Bard. The poem urges a beautiful youth to have children, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life and the importance of passing on beauty and vitality to future generations. The tone is initially urgent and insistent, but evolves into a more celebratory and encouraging note as the poem progresses. Ultimately, it is a blend of pragmatic advice and passionate exhortation against the waste of beauty, which is seen as a gift to be shared, not hoarded. There is a slight shift from a somewhat forceful tone to more appreciative, almost persuasive and gentle tone, at the conclusion of the poem.

The Cycle of Life and Death: Themes of Renewal and Decay

One of the primary themes of the poem is the cycle of life and death, explicitly tied to the concept of renewal through procreation. The opening line, "As fast as thou shalt wane, so fast thou grow'st," immediately establishes this cyclical idea. The poem suggests that as the youth ages and his beauty fades ("wane"), that beauty will be reborn and continue to thrive in his offspring ("grow'st"). Without procreation, the natural order of things is disrupted, leading to "age, and cold decay." Thus, procreation becomes a way to cheat death and ensure the continuation of beauty and vitality. This also implicitly touches on the theme of mortality, as it suggests this youth's beauty will fade, but can be immortalized in his children.

Nature's Endowment: The Gift of Beauty and its Responsibility

Another dominant theme is the idea of beauty as a gift and a responsibility. Shakespeare portrays beauty not merely as a personal attribute, but as a valuable resource to be shared with the world. Lines 11-12, "Look whom she best endowed, she gave the more, / Which bounteous gift thou shouldst in bounty cherish," highlight the belief that those blessed with exceptional beauty have a duty to reproduce, thereby multiplying that beauty. It is almost an aristocracy of attractiveness. Those not so blessed are considered "harsh, featureless, and rude," implying they are not subject to the same expectation.

The Living Seal: Powerful Imagery of Creation and Reproduction

The poem utilizes vivid imagery to reinforce its central message. The most striking image is the extended metaphor of the youth as Nature's "seal," and his offspring as the "print" of that seal. This imagery emphasizes the idea that the youth's beauty is not meant to be a singular, fleeting phenomenon. Instead, it's designed to be replicated and disseminated, like a seal making multiple impressions. "She carved thee for her seal, and meant thereby, / Thou shouldst print more, not let that copy die,". Failing to reproduce would be akin to destroying the seal, thereby preventing the creation of further beautiful impressions. This image connects the physical beauty of the youth to a larger, almost artistic purpose decreed by nature. Is the sonnet then an ode to narcissism, encouraging the youth to reproduce merely to perpetuate their own beauty? Or is it more philosophical, a call to ensure the continuation of human vitality and potential?

The Urgency of Propagation: A Concluding Reflection

In conclusion, Sonnet 11 is a powerful and persuasive plea for procreation, driven by a desire to preserve beauty and vitality. Through vivid imagery and a cyclical view of life and death, Shakespeare encourages the beautiful youth to embrace his duty to reproduce. The poem presents a compelling argument that beauty is a gift, not to be hoarded, but to be generously shared and perpetuated through future generations. The poem's lasting significance lies in its exploration of the relationship between beauty, mortality, and the fundamental human drive to leave a lasting impact on the world. The poem's argument, however persuasive, is also limited, suggesting that only the beautiful should procreate, a rather elitist perspective on human reproduction.