Sonnet 75 by Edmund Spenser
(Also called Amoretti 75)
One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.
Vain man,” said she, “that dost in vain assay,
A mortal thing so to immortalize,
For I myself shall like to this decay,
And eek my name be wiped out likewise.
Not so,” quoth I, “let baser things devise
To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:
My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,
And in the heavens write your glorious name.
Where whenas death shall all the world subdue,
Our love shall live, and later life renew.
Stanza-wise Explanation of “Sonnet 75” by Edmund Spenser
Stanza 1
One day I wrote her name upon the strand,
But came the waves and washed it away:
Again I wrote it with a second hand,
But came the tide, and made my pains his prey.
The poet describes his futile attempt to immortalize his beloved’s name by writing it on the sand. Each time he writes it, the waves erase it, symbolizing the impermanence of human endeavors and the inevitable forces of nature.
Stanza 2
Vain man,” said she, “that dost in vain assay,
A mortal thing so to immortalize,
For I myself shall like to this decay,
And eek my name be wiped out likewise.
The poet’s beloved chastises him, pointing out the futility of his actions. She argues that everything mortal, including her and her name, is destined to perish and fade with time, much like the name written on the sand.
Stanza 3
Not so,” quoth I, “let baser things devise
To die in dust, but you shall live by fame:
My verse your virtues rare shall eternize,
And in the heavens write your glorious name.
The poet counters her argument, claiming that unlike the transient nature of physical existence, his poetry will immortalize her virtues and beauty. Through his verse, her name and qualities will live forever, even reaching the heavens.
Stanza 4
Where whenas death shall all the world subdue,
Our love shall live, and later life renew.
The poet concludes by asserting the eternal nature of their love, which will transcend death and continue to inspire future generations. Poetry, as an art form, will ensure the perpetuity of their bond.
Critical Analysis of “Sonnet 75”
Themes
The poem reflects themes of immortality, love, and the power of poetry. Spenser contrasts the ephemeral nature of physical life with the enduring quality of art and written words.
Structure and Form
Amoretti 75 is a sonnet in Spenserian form, consisting of three quatrains and a couplet with the rhyme scheme ABAB BCBC CDCD EE. This interlocking rhyme scheme mirrors the intertwining nature of love and eternity.
Tone
The tone shifts from frustration and inevitability in the first stanza to hopeful defiance in the third stanza, culminating in a triumphant assertion of love’s and poetry’s everlasting power in the couplet.
Symbolism
- The Strand (Beach): Represents life’s impermanence and the inevitability of change.
- The Waves: Symbolize time and nature’s ability to erase human efforts.
- Poetry: Stands as a symbol of immortality and human creativity’s triumph over mortality.
Literary Devices
- Personification: The tide is personified as preying on the poet’s efforts, emphasizing nature’s dominance.
- Alliteration: Repetition of the ‘p’ sound in “pains” and “prey” in “made my pains his prey” adds a musical quality.
- Contrast: Between the ephemeral (sand and waves) and the eternal (poetry and fame).
Influence of Renaissance Ideals
The poem exemplifies Renaissance humanism, focusing on individual legacy and the belief in art’s capacity to transcend mortality. Spenser’s assertion that his poetry can “eternize” love reflects the Renaissance faith in human creativity as a force against nature’s transience.
Conclusion
“Amoretti 75” is a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of human life and the enduring power of art. Through his elegant verse, Spenser affirms that love and beauty, though mortal, can achieve a form of immortality through the written word. The poem not only celebrates love but also the poet’s role as a preserver of human experience and emotion.
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