Sonnet 55: Not marble, nor the gilded monuments comments and analysis on - A poem by William Shakespeare

Comment 1 of 2, added on October 16th, 2005 at 8:42 PM.

Shakespeare's Sonnet no. 55 speaks of memorializing the memory of a friend or acquaintaince. A sonnet, Shakespeare claims, will last far longer than a physical monument, even "to the ending doom" (the end of humanity and Judgement day).

This sonnet is rife with historical and religious references. The line "Nor Mars his sword, nor war's quick fire shall burn" refers to Mars, the god of war, as the cause of war and the "quick fire" as the result of it. The "judgement" mentioned in line 13 refers to the Final Judgement, which, according to the Catholic Bible, will occur at the end of the world. Then, Shakespeare claims, the deceased friend will rise again and find that s/he has been remembered until that point because of his poetical immortalization.

LINE BY LINE ANALYSIS

NOT MARBLE, NOR THE GILDED MONUMENTS
Not marble, nor the gold-plated monuments

OF PRINCES, SHALL OUTLIVE THIS POWERFUL RHYME;
Of princes (the monuments), will be outlived by the power of poetry;

BUT YOU SHALL SHINE MORE BRIGHT IN THESE CONTENTS
You shall shine more brightly in these verses

THAN UNSWEPT STONE BESMEAR'D WITH SLUTTISH TIME.
Than in a neglected moument ravaged by time.

WHEN WASTEFUL WAR SHALL STATUES OVERTURN,
When destructive/devastating war will destroy/uproot statues,

AND BROILS ROOT OUT THE WORK OF MASONRY,
And conflicts destroy the masonry (stonework),

NOR MARS HIS SWORD NOR WAR'S QUICK FIRE SHALL BURN
Neither Mars (cause of war) nor the resulting fire (effects of war) can or will destroy

THE LIVING RECORD OF YOUR MEMORY.
The living record of your memory (in the poetry).

'GAINST DEATH AND ALL-OBLIVIOUS ENMITY
Against death and hate that destroys the memories/recollections of other people

SHALL YOU PACE FORTH; YOUR PRAISE SHALL STILL FIND ROOM
Shall you keep going; your praises (of you) will still find a place

EVEN IN THE EYES OF ALL POSTERITY
Even in the eyes of the people to come

THAT WEAR THIS WORLD OUT TO THE ENDING DOOM.
That will live on/exist until the end of humanity.

SO, TIL THE JUDGEMENT THAT YOURSELF ARISE
So until Judgement Day when you will rise from the dead (to be judged; Biblical reference)

YOU LIVE IN THIS, AND DWELL IN LOVER'S EYES.
You live in this poem, are loved by those who "know" you, and are remembered as something greater than you really were and untarnished by other peoples' recollections

Zarf Hunter from United States