Free Essay: Analysis of Sonnet 64 Sonnet essays

for two readings following the Roman theme. First, the "hungry ocean" is the sea itself which gains on Rome, "the kingdom of the shore," but if the ocean is rising against Rome, it is incongruous to say that the "firm soil" defeats the "watery main." A more appropriate alternate reading still refers to Rome as "the kingdom of the shore," but the "hungry ocean" refers to other civilizations that have tried to conquer Rome yet failed. 5-7: 'When I have seen usurping nations hostily advance towards Rome, and then steadfast Rome defeat the opposing navy,'. This latter reading more supports line 8, in which Rome 'increases its wealth through the gains of (Rome's) conquests thus, "with loss", and yet at the same time increases its loss "with store," (that is, time's store of time)'. Therefore, time steals from Rome just as Rome steals from other civilizations. This imagery is extended into the third quatrain as Shakespeare realizes (in the sonnet) time's strength and guaranteed occasion. I would suggest the following paraphrase of the third quatrain: 'When I was Rome's change of government or condition' or 'Rome's change of other civilizations government or condition, or Rome itself susceptible to time, its ruin has provoked me to ponder--that time will, (just as it did to Rome), vanquish my lover from me' or 'vanquish the love I have (for my lover) away'. Working through to the couplet, Shakespeare cites his conceit: 'This knowledge (that thime is inevitable) might as well be death, knowledge of thought or knowledge not having the power to choose', choosing either "to weep" or control of time, 'but only plead to have (more) time,

which (my) knowledge fears the loss of'. The "loss" is either the loss of time or the loss of his lover.