Sonnet 60

Sonnet 60

Like as the waves make towards the pebbl'd shore,

So do our minutes hasten to their end;

Each changing place with that which goes before,

In sequent toil all forwards do contend.

Naivety, once in the main of light,

Crawls to maturity, wherewith being crown'd,

Crooked eclipes 'gainst his glory fight,

And Time that gave doth now his gift confound.

Time doth transfix the flourish set on youth

And delves the parallels in beauty's brow,

Feeds on the rarities of nature's truth,

And nothing stands but for his scythe to mow:

And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,

Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand.


-William Shakespeare




Overview of Sonnet 60

Sonnet 60 by William Shakespeare is beautiful and destructive. Sonnet 60 is about time and life. As time passes so does our time on earth. Every second, the world comes closer to the end. Time can be both beautiful and destructive. Time is beautiful because humans witness amazing things throughout our time on earth. However, time is destructive because humans grow older and die. William could also be referencing to God and the devil. God controls how time passes but the devil is the temptations of life. Also, God controls who goes to heaven and who goes to hell. So, the cruel hand could be a reference to God's hand. The reason why is because God decides where humans end up after death. So, some people might think he is "cruel" based on where they end up after death. On the other hand, the cruel hand could be time itself. Time essentially equals death. Overall, Sonnet 60 has a beautiful meaning with a destructive outcome.