Sonnet 60 is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous sonnets, part of his collection of 154 sonnets first published in 1609. Shakespeare’s sonnets explore themes of love, time, beauty, and mortality, and Sonnet 60 stands out for its poignant meditation on the passage of time and the inevitable decay that comes with it. Though we know when the sonnets were published, determining when Sonnet 60 was specifically written is a more complex issue. The sonnets were likely composed over several years, and dating each individual one can only be estimated based on context, historical references, and literary analysis.
This article will explore the historical and literary context of Sonnet 60, discussing its thematic significance, its relation to Shakespeare’s broader body of work, and how scholars have approached the question of when it was written. Through an analysis of both internal and external evidence, we will consider various scholarly perspectives and offer insights into the approximate time period in which this famous sonnet might have been composed.
See Also: 5 Most Famous Sonnets by William Shakespeare
1. The Collection of Shakespeare’s Sonnets: An Overview
Shakespeare’s sonnets were first published in 1609, a date that provides a clear reference point for when they became known to the public. However, scholars agree that Shakespeare had likely been working on his sonnets for several years, possibly even decades, before they were printed. The publication of the sonnets was titled Shake-speares Sonnets and included 154 poems, divided into two thematic sequences: the Fair Youth sequence (Sonnets 1-126) and the Dark Lady sequence (Sonnets 127-154).
Sonnet 60 falls within the Fair Youth sequence, a series of poems addressed to a young man, often interpreted as exploring themes of love, admiration, and the transient nature of beauty. Many of these sonnets, including Sonnet 60, reflect on the impact of time and the inevitable decay that comes with it. While there is no direct evidence indicating when Sonnet 60 was written, examining the themes, language, and context of the entire sonnet collection can help provide clues.
2. Thematic Analysis of Sonnet 60
Sonnet 60 is famous for its vivid imagery and meditation on time’s relentless march. The sonnet opens with the following lines:
“Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do contend.”
This imagery of waves moving inexorably toward the shore serves as a metaphor for the passage of time, a theme that permeates much of Shakespeare’s sonnet sequence. The sonnet continues to explore how time erodes everything in its path, including beauty and life itself. The final couplet reads:
“And Time that gave doth now his gift confound,
Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth.”
The repetition of the word “Time” emphasizes the central theme of the sonnet: time as both a creator and destroyer. The young man, like all mortals, is subject to the ravages of time. Despite any attempts to resist or deny it, the sonnet suggests that the beauty of youth is fleeting, and time inevitably wears it down.
Given these themes, Sonnet 60 reflects a mature meditation on the nature of life and mortality. Shakespeare’s interest in these themes evolved over his career, which helps us estimate when this sonnet may have been written.
3. Dating Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Dating Shakespeare’s sonnets has been a subject of scholarly debate for centuries. While the sonnets were first published in 1609, it is widely believed that Shakespeare composed them earlier. Scholars have suggested that the sonnets could have been written anywhere from the mid-1590s to the early 1600s, a range that reflects the lack of definitive evidence.
Many scholars believe that Shakespeare began writing his sonnets during the plague outbreak of 1592-1594, when the London theaters were closed, giving him time to focus on poetry. During this time, Shakespeare also wrote Venus and Adonis (1593) and The Rape of Lucrece (1594), two narrative poems that explore themes of beauty, love, and mortality—similar to the themes found in his sonnets.
However, the sonnets were likely written over a longer period. Some may have been written in the 1590s, while others may have been composed in the early 1600s, particularly as Shakespeare’s themes grew darker and more focused on decay, death, and the passage of time, as seen in his later plays like Hamlet (1601) and Macbeth (1606).
Sonnet 60, with its profound reflection on time and mortality, aligns with the more mature themes present in Shakespeare’s later works. While it could have been written in the mid-1590s, it is also possible that it was composed closer to the time of the sonnets’ publication in 1609, when Shakespeare was in his mid-forties and perhaps more attuned to the inevitability of aging.
4. Literary Context and Influences
Sonnet 60’s focus on time and its destructive power is a theme that can be found in many of Shakespeare’s contemporaries and predecessors. Shakespeare was likely influenced by the works of earlier poets, such as Edmund Spenser and Philip Sidney, who also grappled with themes of time, love, and mortality in their poetry.
For example, Spenser’s Amoretti (1595) and Sidney’s Astrophel and Stella (1591) both explore the tension between eternal love and the fleeting nature of human life. These sonnet sequences were written during the late 16th century, around the same time Shakespeare was likely working on his own sonnets. The preoccupation with time and its effects on beauty and love was a common theme in the Elizabethan literary world, and Shakespeare’s Sonnet 60 fits squarely within this tradition.
Additionally, Shakespeare may have been influenced by the classical concept of memento mori—a reminder of death’s inevitability, often used in Renaissance art and literature. This theme of mortality, which appears frequently in Shakespeare’s sonnets, is particularly evident in Sonnet 60, where time is portrayed as an unstoppable force that destroys everything in its path.
5. Internal Evidence and Clues
When trying to date Shakespeare’s sonnets, scholars often look for internal evidence—clues within the text itself that might hint at when a particular sonnet was written. In the case of Sonnet 60, the sonnet’s mature tone and complex treatment of time suggest that it may have been written later in Shakespeare’s career.
Some scholars have pointed to Sonnet 60’s parallels with other works from the early 1600s, such as Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. Both Sonnet 60 and Hamlet meditate on time, death, and the futility of human efforts to resist these forces. In Hamlet, the character’s famous soliloquy—“To be, or not to be”—reflects a similar concern with the inevitability of death and the passage of time. This thematic connection suggests that Sonnet 60 may have been written around the same time as Hamlet, in the early 1600s.
Additionally, the use of the metaphor of waves in Sonnet 60 could also be a reflection of Shakespeare’s experiences living in a port city like London, where he would have had ample opportunity to observe the sea and its constant, relentless movement. This metaphor is not only powerful but also evokes a sense of permanence in the face of inevitable change, a theme Shakespeare increasingly explored in his later works.
6. The Role of Sonnet 60 in the Sequence
Sonnet 60 occupies a key position within Shakespeare’s sonnet sequence. As the 60th sonnet out of 154, it stands near the middle of the collection, making it part of the thematic turning point where Shakespeare’s focus shifts more directly to the passage of time and the inevitability of death.
The sonnet that precedes Sonnet 60, Sonnet 59, also touches on the theme of time, but from a different angle. Sonnet 59 reflects on how human experiences are repetitive, and nothing is truly new. By contrast, Sonnet 60 emphasizes time’s forward movement, highlighting the destructive power of time rather than its cyclical nature. This thematic shift is significant, as it marks a deepening of Shakespeare’s exploration of mortality.
Following Sonnet 60, the subsequent sonnets continue to reflect on time, beauty, and decay, with Sonnet 64 offering another meditation on how “Time will come and take my love away.” This ongoing preoccupation with time throughout the sonnet sequence supports the idea that Sonnet 60 was written during a period when Shakespeare was deeply engaged with these themes, possibly in the early 1600s.
Conclusion
While we may never know the exact date when Sonnet 60 was written, we can make an educated guess based on the available evidence. The thematic maturity of the sonnet, its meditation on time and mortality, and its parallels with Shakespeare’s later works suggest that it was likely composed in the early 1600s, around the same time as plays like Hamlet and Macbeth.
However, it is also possible that Shakespeare began working on Sonnet 60, along with other sonnets, in the mid-1590s, revising and refining them over the years. The sonnets as a whole reflect a broad span of Shakespeare’s career, and Sonnet 60’s position within the sequence makes it a pivotal reflection on time’s power.
Ultimately, the date of Sonnet 60’s composition may remain a mystery, but its themes of time, beauty, and decay have ensured its enduring place in the canon of English literature. Its exploration of the universal human experience continues to resonate with readers today, offering a timeless reflection on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life.