Kate on Sonnet 73

Shakespeare, Sonnet 73 (Kate Niswander)

Sonnet 73 encompasses many things that are both seen easily on the surface as well as hidden beneath. At first look the sonnet seems to be one that justifies the seasons and shows the transition of fall to winter with its effects on the world around it. However, doing a close reading we see that the poem is actually a metaphor for growing old and losing your passion for what you hold dear to you be it a hobby or a literal person. This self pity the writer feels is one that easily can be recognized as they feel as if they are fading in life from age and loss of passion, they feel bad for themselves as well as invite sympathy from the readers. The poem starts out as one of ideal beauty that quickly fades one by one as it continues down through each line.  Everything that is dear to the writer is fading and turning dark just like fall to winter or day to night, things coming to a close to finally end on a note of love. There are many different interpretations of this sonnet, all of which are excellent points. Is it simply about the seasons? About death? Loss of youth? Losing what you love? Motivation? All of these are true for this poem it is just up to your interpretation to find out what it means to you.