Shakespeare has appealed to the Fair Youth's heritage once before
seemingly without much success, a number of contrasting and sometimes
complimentary metaphors have ensued but now in Sonnet 13, he seeks to use his
own affection towards the Youth as a motivation for him to consider and
possibly implement the idea of procreation. Sonnet 13 also reflects a
conspicuous leap in the intensity of intimacy between the persona and the Fair
Youth as it is the first time words like "Love" and "My dear
love..." are used.
Lamentation ensues in the first line, "O that you were yourself,"
with the persona seemingly appealing to a time when things were different. A
time when the Fair Youth was possibly more understanding or a time when this
ever evolving beauty manifested itself in a more lasting manner, a form less
ravaged by time, a form not so near its ultimate demise. The keening continues
into line 2 with an assertion-cum- reminder that the Fair Youth's allure only
exists as long as he lives thereby further postulating the need for
procreation. The next line further augments this notion in the most perspicuous
manner; a straightforward assertion, "Against this coming end you should
prepare."
As if to say the metaphorical approach has been ineffective it seems the
persona has turned to clarity so as to make certain his wish is granted. Shakespeare's
writing is customarily saturated with
metaphoric relevance such that in the first thirteen Sonnets this may be the
pinnacle of pleas and entreaties. The culmination of a crescendo, maybe the
moment the Fair Youth is to start believing or the quest to convince him
assumes a renewed vigour.
In a fairly swift return to convention, the Fair Youth's beauty is
likened to a house. Who in their right mind would let such a house succumb to
the elements with full knowledge of what might save it the persona asks.
Doubtless the Youth will have to look within and decide whether to be the
irrational carefree housekeeper ( killing off his own beauty) or be the
responsible individual and do what is required to maintain the metaphoric house
( his beauty).
The final couplet is the highlight of Sonnet 13 as it contains an
unequivocal show or confirmation of the intensity of affection borne by the
persona for the Fair Youth. He is referenced as "... my love" for the
first time thereby marking a shift in tone henceforth. A metamorphosis likely
to herald a new breed of metaphors and imagery in the Sonnets that follow and
hopefully a change of heart from the Fair Youth.