Introduction – William Shakespeare is considered among greatest English writers. His contribution in both drama and poetry is unmatchable. His ‘Not Marble, Nor Gilded Monuments’ is 55th sonnet. Shakespeare is known for his 154 sonnets in poetry out of which 1-126 are dedicated to a mysterious young man. This sonnet is also dedicated to that young man whose identity is not clear. Shakespeare has tried to make this young man immortal through his writing. The poem was first published in 1609 with other sonnets.
Central Idea- This sonnet is centralized on wrath of time and power of rhyme. Time is causing havoc over everything whether it is ‘gilded monuments’ constructed by princes and kings or empire of kings getting overturned by wars. Writer knows the reality of the world and nature of future ‘posterity’ which can bring this world to an end. Hence the poet wants to secure his young man from such insecurities of future resultantly he has written this poem to make him immortal as his poetry can’t be stopped by God of wars i.e. Mars, wars or enmity.
Themes
1. Wrath of Time – Poet explains that how time destroys kingdoms of kings through wars and monuments of princes through degradation. It is a ultimate force which brings everything down. ‘Not Marble, nor gilded monuments’ can surpass time.
2. Power of writing – Poet makes big claims in the poem that his poetry will outlive ‘marble’ or ‘gilded monuments’. He says wrath of time may besmeared stones established in memories but his young man will shine bright in his poem. Wars may destroy kingdoms, statutes etc. but his poem will keep going on and make his young man immortal. Even this poem will work ‘against death and all oblivious enmity’ means end of physical existence of the young man won’t be able to stop the ‘living record’ of young man in this poem. Poem will always remember him and curse of oblivion won’t have its effect.
Figure of Speech
- Consonance – ‘Shall Shine’ has consonance as there is repetition of consonant /sh/ and change of vowels is followed thereafter.
- Assonance – ‘When wasteful war’ has repetition of vowel sound ‘a’.
- Alliteration – ‘When wasteful war’ has repetition of consonant /w/.
- Enjambment –
‘Not marble nor the gilded monuments
Of princes shall outlive this powerful rhyme’.
It is an example of enjambment as the ending of first line is not the ending of sentence and the sentence is continued into the second line too.
- Metaphor – ‘living record’ is used for poem.
- Personification – War has been personified in line ‘when wasteful war shall statues overturned’.
Greek Mythology – Shakespeare has used example from Greek mythology. ‘Mars’ was the God of wars according to Greek mythology. Shakespeare has used him to show the power comparison between a god of war and destruction with the power of his rhyme.
Musical Quality – Poem has musical quality as many other Shakespearean sonnets. The very first line of the poem ‘Not marble, nor the gilded monuments’ brings the musical effect into the poem as alliterations in ‘not’ and ‘nor’ and ‘marble and ‘monuments’ creates that effect.
Structure and Rhyme scheme – Poem has three quatrains and a concluding couplet which is common in Shakespearean sonnets. Rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
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