Shakespeare VS Time

Shakespeare’s sonnets that we have read all have a similar theme of love and time passing, introduced by metaphors that he creates by personifying the feeling of love and the perception of time. In some sonnets, Shakespeare even goes as far as to capitalize the word “Time” to give it an importance over the rest of the words. The language he uses when speaking of time also shows his attitude towards time, even more so than his metaphors.
Beginning with Sonnet 12 and looking at time, the poem is an entire metaphor for the passing of time with Shakespeare mentioning the seasons passing and people turning old, while at the end of the poem he writes, “And nothing ‘gainst Time’s scythe can make defense” (13). This use of language shows time as death, carrying his scythe and the fact that no one can stop it. The capitalization of time personifies it in the poem as a person or death, which causes a tonal change near the end of the poem. In Sonnet 19, time turns from death to something the Shakespeare is trying to defeat. He wants his love to last forever and therefore has time killed and mauled by animals. “Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion’s paws.” (1). And although Time may take away his love wrongfully, “My love shall in my verse ever live young.” (14). Shakespeare is trying to defeat time; therefore he personifies it as a person so that it is something physical he can overcome. In Sonnet 60, another reference to time as death is made, as he capitalizes time as well as mentioning the scythe:
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 stand but for his scythe to mow.
And yet to times in hope my verse shall stand,
Praising thy worth, despite his cruel hand. (8-14)
Shakespeare’s use of the capitalization of the word time demonstrates that he feels as though time is not something you can escape physically, but it is something his poems and feelings can surpass. As in the final two lines, he states that time can take beauty and life but not his verses, which his transcripts show as a true testament. This statement is shown again in Sonnet 65:
When rocks impregnable are not so stout,
Nor gates of steel so strong, but Time decays?
. . . Shall Time’s best jewel from Time’s chest lie hid?
. . . O none, unless this miracle have might,
That in black ink my love may still shine bright. (8-14)
Without the capitalization and personification of time, Shakespeare’s hatred and fear of it may have been lost in his sonnets.