the after picture

Have you ever walked outside during late autumn? If you have, then you’ve seen the familiar scene of fallen dead leaves on the cool ground and a trickle of brightly colored leaves still hanging in the trees. The ground full of those lost and flaccid leaves marks the beginning of a new phase in Mother Nature’s course. The winter chill brings a white sheet of snow that covers the ground. Shakespeare’s “That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold” is written in a way that is broken down into clusters of four lines ending with a couplet. Each group represents a figure in nature: autumn, sunset, and the extinguishing of fire.

In the beginning Shakespeare is talking about a time that he will hold and or cherish, “that time of year thou mayst in me behold.” The symbol of autumn represents the time that is slipping away. Autumn is the time of year “When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang.” Many of the colored leaves have fallen and turned brown. The leaves from the tree are now dead and will soon be buried by the winter’s snow and forgotten. To Shakespeare the end of this season signifies the ending of his life where he will too be buried, but hopefully not as easily forgotten. Line four says “bare ruined choirs, where late the sweet birds sang.” Birds fly south for the winter to stay warm. Shakespeare gives the audience a sense that he is lonely. Nature cannot be stopped, as the saying goes “nature must run its course.” You cannot hide from or change death. Shakespeare is well aware of this, but is trying to hold on to what is passing.

Line five says “In me thou see’st the twilight of such day.” Twilight and sunset fit theme of change. Shakespeare’s time on earth grows shorter and shorter just as the days do in winter. Death is used to symbolize sleep in line eight where Shakespeare writes “deaths second self that seals up all in rest.” Death’s second self means sleep. When we die we can think of it as our body resting in a deep sleep. In death we are no longer conscience of anything. Shakespeare will no longer be able to remember all of his achievements, creations, or the people he cared for and loved.

The first line of the third set talks about a fire that Shakespeare sees in him. That fire once bright and glowing is now dimming. He writes “In me thou see’st the glowing of such fire, that on the ashes of his youth doth lie.” The fire which represents life and spirit has burned out and turned to ash. Shakespeare’s life is burning out. Fire gives off warmth which can be associated with life. Up until the tenth line Shakespeare has made the entire poem about the nearing of death. Shakespeare’s insistent message is nearing a climax. The final lines, the couplet, serve as a final warning to hang on to the last moments you have of life. I believe that it speaks of both relationships and experiences gone through in life. Shakespeare is telling the audience to keep the good memories from life close to you till the very end.

Throughout “That Time of Year Thou Mayst in Me Behold” there is a decrescendo of sorts. We have the transition of autumn to winter, then twilight and sunset, and finally the dousing of a fire. All are elements that symbolize the ending of life. Shakespeare uses them as tools to help send his warning of enjoying your life and all of the good times before it slips away. At the beginning of the poem we have things set at a big scope with there still being life with the symbol of autumn. Then there is a tapering down as the poem draws closer and closer to the subject of death. You start off with great health and youthfulness, and then year by year it slowly decreases to the point it’s hardly noticed: before you know it your health gets worse and suddenly you’re not so young anymore. I believe that Shakespeare used this poem as a means to bring this issue to his audience’s attention.

Mother Nature has a set course, and by no means deters from it. Death is but a part of that course. Whether we like it or not, no matter what we do old age and then death will ultimately catch up to all of us. When that time comes we can look back at the beautiful times from our vibrant times as a youth. However, just like leaves they fall and pass away. Shakespeare used autumn as symbolism as the coming of what’s next in life, meaning death. Twilight is the time just before the sun rises and the day starts. Death is like the twilight before the day you might pass on. The sunset is the close of that day, an ending of what has happened. Finally the burning out of fire is Shakespeare’s last plea. Enjoy the time that you have before it’s gone. Autumn, sunset, fire dying are all things a part of a bigger course. They must occur for those courses to continue. None of them can be stopped or avoided. It must happen, just as death must happen. Shakespeare uses great metaphor and symbolism to convey his warning. His life is ending and he can hardly believe it.