“Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

“Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare, first published in 1609 in the collection known as the Shakespeare’s Sonnets, is part of the Fair Youth sequence, and characterized by its persuasive tone and economic metaphors. Shakespeare employs a unique argument to convince the young man to procreate, highlighting the potential grief not just of a hypothetical widow, but of the entire world if his beauty dies with him. The poem’s emotional appeal is heightened by vivid imagery and a sense of urgency, making it a compelling exploration of love, loss, and the importance of leaving a legacy.

Text: “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye,
That thou consum’st thy self in single life?
Ah! if thou issueless shalt hap to die,
The world will wail thee like a makeless wife;
The world will be thy widow and still weep
That thou no form of thee hast left behind,
When every private widow well may keep
By children’s eyes, her husband’s shape in mind:
Look what an unthrift in the world doth spend
Shifts but his place, for still the world enjoys it;
But beauty’s waste hath in the world an end,
And kept unused the user so destroys it.
   No love toward others in that bosom sits
   That on himself such murd’rous shame commits.

Annotations: “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

Line	Explanation
Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye,	Are you afraid of making a woman cry by leaving her a widow?
That thou consum’st thy self in single life?	Is this why you are choosing to remain single?
Ah! if thou issueless shalt hap to die,	Alas! If you happen to die without having children,
The world will wail thee like a makeless wife;	The world will mourn you as if it were a wife without a husband;
The world will be thy widow and still weep	The world itself will act like your widow and will continue to mourn,
That thou no form of thee hast left behind,	Because you have not left any offspring (a form of yourself) behind,
When every private widow well may keep	While every ordinary widow can preserve her husband’s memory
By children’s eyes, her husband’s shape in mind:	Through their children, who resemble him.
Look what an unthrift in the world doth spend	Consider how a spendthrift wastes his resources in the world
Shifts but his place, for still the world enjoys it;	He just changes the ownership of his wealth, but the world still benefits from it;
But beauty’s waste hath in the world an end,	However, if beauty is wasted (not passed on), it eventually disappears from the world,
And kept unused the user so destroys it.	And if beauty is not used (shared through procreation), the person possessing it destroys it by not passing it on.
No love toward others in that bosom sits	There is no love for others in the heart of someone who
That on himself such murd’rous shame commits.	Commits such a self-destructive and shameful act (by not having children).

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

1. Alliteration: Repetition of “w” sounds in lines 4 and 5 (“world will wail,” “widow,” “weep”) creates a melancholic tone.
2. Antithesis: The contrast between “private widow” who finds solace in her children and the “world” left grieving due to the young man’s selfishness.
3. Apostrophe: The poem is addressed directly to the young man (“thou”), making it a personal plea rather than a general observation.
4. Hyperbole: Exaggeration of the world’s grief if the young man dies without children. This emphasizes the magnitude of potential loss.
5. Imagery: Vivid descriptions that evoke sensory experiences, like the world “wailing” and “weeping.”
6. Metaphor: The world as a “makeless wife” and a “widow” to the fair youth, should he die without children. The young man’s beauty as a resource that is wasted if “kept unused.”
7. Metonymy: The phrase “children’s eyes” represents the children themselves, who help their widowed mother remember her husband.
8. Personification: The world “wail[ing]” and “weep[ing]” for the young man, attributing human emotions and actions to the world.
9. Persuasive Language: The use of rhetorical questions (“Is it for fear…?”), appeals to emotion (“Ah!”), and direct address (“thou”) to persuade the young man.
10. Repetition: The word “world” is repeated five times, emphasizing the global impact of the young man’s decision not to procreate.
11. Rhetorical Question: “Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye…?” used to challenge the young man’s motives and provoke thought.
12. Rhyme Scheme: ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, the traditional Shakespearean sonnet form.
13. Sonnet Form: The poem follows the traditional Shakespearean sonnet structure, with 14 lines in iambic pentameter and a concluding rhyming couplet.
14. Tone: Shifts from persuasive and concerned to accusatory and judgmental in the final couplet.
15. Volta: The turn in the final couplet marks a shift in tone, as the speaker directly accuses the young man of “murd’rous shame.”

Themes: “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

1. The Impermanence of Beauty and the Need for Procreation: Shakespeare emphasizes the fleeting nature of physical beauty, urging the young man to procreate so his beauty can live on through his offspring. This is evident in lines 11-12: “But beauty’s waste hath in the world an end, / And kept unused the user so destroys it.” The poem argues that beauty not passed on through procreation is ultimately a waste.
2. Selfishness vs. Generosity: The sonnet contrasts the young man’s potential selfishness in refusing to share his beauty through procreation with the generosity of ordinary widows who leave behind a part of their husbands through children. Lines 6-8 state, “The world will be thy widow and still weep / That thou no form of thee hast left behind, / When every private widow well may keep / By children’s eyes, her husband’s shape in mind.” The contrast highlights the young man’s potential self-centeredness.
3. Societal Loss and Grief: Shakespeare portrays the young man’s decision not to procreate as a loss not just for a potential wife but for the entire world. The repetition of “world” emphasizes this communal grief: “The world will wail thee like a makeless wife; / The world will be thy widow and still weep.” This underscores the idea that the young man’s beauty is a gift to be shared, not hoarded.
4. Love and Legacy: The sonnet explores the idea that true love extends beyond oneself and encompasses a desire to leave a lasting legacy. The final couplet accuses the young man of lacking love for others: “No love toward others in that bosom sits / That on himself such murd’rous shame commits.” This suggests that love involves considering the well-being of others and contributing to the future.

Literary Theories and “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

Literary Theory	Reference from “Sonnet 9”	Critique
New Historicism	“Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye, / That thou consum’st thy self in single life?”	New Historicism examines literature in the context of the historical and cultural conditions in which it was produced. In this sonnet, the fear of leaving a widow and the importance of procreation reflect Elizabethan societal norms and values regarding marriage and lineage. The critique focuses on how the poem’s themes resonate with the period’s emphasis on inheritance and the continuation of family lines, highlighting societal pressures on individuals to marry and reproduce.
Psychoanalytic Criticism	“No love toward others in that bosom sits / That on himself such murd’rous shame commits.”	Psychoanalytic criticism, based on Freudian theories, might explore the unconscious motivations behind the speaker’s exhortations. The accusation of “murd’rous shame” can be interpreted as the speaker projecting his anxieties and desires for immortality through offspring onto the subject. The critique would analyze the psychological implications of self-destruction through celibacy, and the internal conflicts related to narcissism, legacy, and fear of mortality.
Feminist Criticism	“The world will wail thee like a makeless wife; / The world will be thy widow and still weep”	Feminist criticism examines the portrayal and roles of women and gender dynamics. This sonnet anthropomorphizes the world as a widow, reflecting gendered expectations of women as dependent on men for their identity and purpose. The critique would address how the poem reinforces traditional gender roles, portraying women primarily in relation to their husbands and children, and might also explore the implications of equating the world’s grief with that of a “makeless wife,” highlighting the cultural undervaluing of women without husbands.

Critical Questions about “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

• How does Shakespeare use figurative language to persuade the young man to procreate?
•  Shakespeare employs various metaphors, such as comparing the world to a “makeless wife” and a “widow” if the young man dies without children. This evokes a sense of loss and grief, highlighting the negative impact of his potential decision. The comparison of beauty to a resource that is “wasted” if “kept unused” further emphasizes the urgency of passing on his genetic legacy.
• What is the significance of the contrast between the private widow and the world in the sonnet?
• The contrast between the private widow, who finds solace in her children’s resemblance to her husband, and the world, which would mourn the young man’s beauty dying with him, serves to highlight the selfishness of the young man’s decision. It underscores the difference between personal grief and the broader societal loss caused by his choice.
• In what ways does the sonnet challenge conventional notions of beauty?
• The sonnet challenges the idea that beauty is solely for personal enjoyment. By comparing beauty to a resource that loses value if not utilized, it suggests that beauty has a social function and a responsibility to be shared through procreation. This challenges the narcissistic view of beauty prevalent in some sonnets of the time.
• How does the tone of the sonnet change in the final couplet?
• The tone shifts dramatically in the final couplet. The initial persuasive and concerned tone gives way to a direct accusation of “murd’rous shame.” This abrupt shift emphasizes the seriousness of the young man’s potential decision and serves as a final, impactful attempt to persuade him to reconsider. The harsh language of the couplet leaves a lasting impression and underscores the moral implications of his choice.

Topics, Questions, and Thesis Statement about “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

Topic	Question	Thesis Statement
The Consequences of Single Life	How does Shakespeare portray the consequences of remaining single in “Sonnet 9”?	In “Sonnet 9,” Shakespeare portrays the consequences of remaining single as a form of selfishness that leads to the destruction of one’s legacy and the loss of one’s beauty, urging the individual to consider procreation as a means of achieving immortality.
The Role of Procreation	What argument does Shakespeare make about the importance of procreation in “Sonnet 9”?	Shakespeare argues in “Sonnet 9” that procreation is essential for preserving one’s beauty and legacy, suggesting that failing to have children is a waste of one’s potential and a disservice to the world.
Personification and Gender Roles	How does the personification of the world as a widow reflect gender roles in “Sonnet 9”?	In “Sonnet 9,” Shakespeare’s personification of the world as a widow reflects Elizabethan gender roles, emphasizing the dependency of women on men for identity and purpose, and highlighting societal expectations for men to marry and have children.
Mortality and Legacy	What does “Sonnet 9” suggest about the relationship between mortality and legacy?	“Sonnet 9” suggests that mortality and legacy are intrinsically linked, positing that the only way to transcend death and ensure one’s legacy is through procreation, thereby leaving a tangible form of oneself in the world.

Literary Works Similar to “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

Poem	Poet	Similarity
“Sonnet 18” (“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?”)	William Shakespeare	Like “Sonnet 9,” this poem discusses the theme of preserving beauty and legacy. While “Sonnet 9” emphasizes procreation, “Sonnet 18” focuses on the immortalizing power of poetry.
“Sonnets from the Portuguese 21”	Elizabeth Barrett Browning	This sonnet also explores themes of love, beauty, and the desire for the beloved’s legacy to endure. It emphasizes the personal and emotional aspects of immortalizing love.
“To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time”	Robert Herrick	This poem shares the theme of seizing the moment and the urgency of procreation, advising young women to marry while they are still in their prime.
“The Canonization”	John Donne	While focusing on the theme of love, this poem explores how love can grant immortality, similar to how “Sonnet 9” emphasizes the enduring nature of one’s legacy through procreation.
“When I Have Fears that I May Cease to Be”	John Keats	This poem reflects on mortality, legacy, and the fear of dying without leaving a lasting impact, akin to the anxieties expressed in “Sonnet 9” about dying without progeny.

Suggested Readings: “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

Representative Quotations from “Sonnet 9” by William Shakespeare

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Is it for fear to wet a widow’s eye, / That thou consum’st thy self in single life?”	The speaker questions whether the addressee remains single to avoid leaving a widow behind.	New Historicism: This reflects Elizabethan societal expectations regarding marriage and the importance of producing heirs.
“Ah! if thou issueless shalt hap to die, / The world will wail thee like a makeless wife;”	The speaker warns that dying without children will lead to the world mourning the addressee as a childless widow mourns a husband.	Feminist Criticism: This emphasizes the gendered portrayal of grief and the societal roles of women as dependent on marriage and motherhood.
“The world will be thy widow and still weep / That thou no form of thee hast left behind,”	The speaker personifies the world as a widow mourning the lack of the addressee’s legacy.	Psychoanalytic Criticism: This can be seen as a projection of the speaker’s own fears and anxieties about mortality and the need for a legacy.
“But beauty’s waste hath in the world an end, / And kept unused the user so destroys it.”	The speaker argues that unused beauty is ultimately wasted and destroys the one who possesses it by not passing it on.	Marxist Criticism: This can be interpreted as a commentary on the value of resources (beauty) and the importance of their productive use (procreation).
“No love toward others in that bosom sits / That on himself such murd’rous shame commits.”	The speaker accuses the addressee of being selfish and committing a shameful act by not sharing his beauty through procreation.	Ethical Criticism: This highlights the moral implications of selfishness and the ethical duty to contribute to the continuation of human beauty and legacy.