Shakespeare Sonnet 10

‘For shame! deny that thou bear’st love to any’

Apr 10, 2007

In Sonnet 10, the speaker challenges the young man's sense of self, regarding his love and affection for others. The speaker exaggerates the lack as "murderous hate."

First Quatrain

In the couplet of Sonnet 9, the speaker had accusingly accosted the young man with “No love toward others in that bosom sits / That on himself such murderous shame commits.” In Sonnet 10, he continues this theme of accusing the young man of loving no one but himself. The speaker has often chided the lad for his selfishness, and now the speaker is calling such selfishness a crime—a murderous crime.

The speaker cries out “For shame!” Then challenges the young man to deny that he is unmindful of others, that he, in fact, is as charitable to others as they are to him. The speaker reminds the young man that surely he is aware that many others bear affection for the young man, but that the lad does not return that affection “is most evident.”

Second Quatrain

The speaker continues his exaggeration in the second quatrain reproaching him for bearing “murderous hate” in his heart and that such hatred works against the young man’s better interests: it’s as if he were to allow the roof of his house to be battered in and not lift a finger to stop the destruction.

The speaker condemns this attitude, claiming that he should desire to repair such destruction, and that this repair should his “chief desire.” Of course, the speaker is again engaging in metaphor as he urges the young man to shield himself from the ruin of dying without offspring.

Third Quatrain

In the third quatrain, the speaker has melted into pleading with the young man to alter his “thought” so the speaker can also alter his own thought. The speaker does not want to believe that such “murderous” crimes of hatred are, in deed, maintained in the bosom of this pleasing young man. The speaker rhetorically asks the young man if it is easier to hate than to love.

Again, the speaker is trying to convince the young man that his argument can be well supported. The speaker then gives the lad a command telling him to be “gracious and kind” as his appearance is.

By showing his love and affection for a woman and producing an heir, the young man will show that he can take care of himself. The speaker has already demonstrated the bitter coldness, loneliness, and isolation of dying without leaving an heir. Now, he wants to lad to, at least, be kind to himself.

The Couplet

In the couplet, the speaker invokes his own position in the young man’s heart as he commands, “Make thee another self, for love of me.” If he will not produce the offspring solely for himself, then the speakers asks him to do for the speaker.

And then he returns to the perpetuation of beauty theme; although, there are many reasons for procreating offspring, the passing on of beauty is one of the most important for a vain young man. At least, the speaker is counting on that vanity being part of the equation.