Poem Analysis - Sonnet 17 Who Will Believe My Verse In Time To Come

A Poet's Fear of Oblivion

Shakespeare's Sonnet 17 is a poignant exploration of a poet's anxiety regarding the lasting power of his verse. The poem expresses a fear that future generations won't believe the speaker's praise of his beloved, seeing it as mere exaggeration. This fear stems from the belief that the beloved's beauty is so extraordinary it surpasses the realm of earthly possibility. The sonnet shifts from self-doubt to a hopeful resolution, finding solace in the potential for the beloved's legacy to live on through their offspring.

The Transient Nature of Beauty and Art

One central theme is the fleeting nature of both beauty and art. Shakespeare worries that his writing, like a "tomb," only partially captures the essence of his subject, concealing more than it reveals. He fears that time, symbolized by "yellowed" papers, will render his verses obsolete and untrustworthy. The imagery of the "old men of less truth than tongue" further reinforces the idea that age and the passage of time diminish the value of words. This illustrates the struggle of any artist to create something timeless in a world defined by change and decay.

The Power of Procreation to Conquer Time

Another significant theme is the power of procreation to overcome mortality. The sonnet argues that the beloved's true immortality lies not solely in the poet's verse, but in their children. The lines "But were some child of yours alive that time, / You should live twice, in it and in my rhyme" suggest that the child would embody the beloved's beauty and virtues, serving as a living testament to their existence. The poem suggests that art can immortalize to some degree, but that physical legacy through descendants provides a more enduring form of remembrance. This emphasizes the human desire to leave a lasting mark on the world beyond one's own lifespan.

"Heavenly Touches" and the Question of Believability

The image of "heavenly touches" used to describe the beloved's beauty is a recurring and powerful symbol. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the subject's beauty, suggesting it is almost divine. However, this very hyperbole contributes to the speaker's central concern: that future readers will dismiss his descriptions as unbelievable, as mere "poet’s rage." The poem grapples with the tension between artistic expression and historical accuracy. The effectiveness of the poem hinges upon the reader’s interpretation. Is Shakespeare merely employing conventional poetic exaggeration, or is he genuinely awestruck by beauty he feels language struggles to capture?

Love, Legacy, and the Poet's Hope

In conclusion, Sonnet 17 is a meditation on love, legacy, and the enduring power of both art and life. The poet grapples with the fear that his words will fail to adequately capture the beauty of his subject, and that future generations will not believe his praise. However, he finds solace in the idea that the beloved's legacy will live on through their children, thus ensuring a more tangible and lasting form of immortality. Ultimately, the poem is a testament to the human desire to transcend mortality through both artistic creation and the continuation of life itself, offering a hopeful vision where love and legacy intertwine to defy the passage of time.