Just in case the Fair Youth or any of us were thinking Shakespeare is
some sort of psychic based on his insights on the likelihood of negative events
regarding the ravages of time, Sonnet 14
extinguishes any such thoughts thereby giving the persona a more humanely
outlook. The theme of procreation continues and hinges on the comparison
between the 'stars' and the Youth's 'eyes', a fairly common comparison in
matters involving love where the beloved assumes qualities of everything that
is angelic.
Beginning the Sonnet with the word "Not" serves to give it a
somewhat categorical feel capturing the attention of the reader; most
importantly the Fair Youth. In this first line, Shakespeare also alludes to
there being an aura of doubt or disbelief at the use of stars to tell fortunes
through the slightly mocking tone the line assumes. As a continued criticism
of fortune tellers, the persona plays on
the fact that they often group their visions in only good and evil, "... of
good or evil luck," when surely there has to be more than just that. It is
probably worth noting that "astrology" ( as defined at the Sonnet's
time of construction) played a pivotal role in determining the behaviour of
individuals at just about every level of society. However, based on
Shakespeare's supposed satirising of this concept, certain individuals who were
or thought themselves to be learned were vastly critical of fortune telling as
a result as we shall assume the Fair Youth and Shakespeare shared in this
disbelieving state, the assertion of procreation would hold more strength if it
was distanced from "astrology" as the persona aptly does.
A look at the list that Shakespeare makes of things he cannot foretell
would seem as if he can tell very little if anything at all thereby
disencumbering himself from the advisory
pedestal the previous Sonnets had facilitated. Why then should the Fair Youth
believe or be convinced by one who cannot "...tell of plagues or
dearths" or "thunder, rain and wind" that which should be
trivial work for any half decent
fortuneteller.
The third quatrain swiftly brushes away any doubts as alas, the persona
needs not the stars but the Fair Youth's eyes. Not only does this reflect
glowingly on the persona's prognostication talent but also heightens the
supposed beauty of the Youth's eyes as they supposedly work just as well as
stars at least in the eyes of a sibyl. Through the thriving of truth and
beauty, procreation is to take place. A
rather complex message to derive from one's eyes and yet a fitting message as
the previous Sonnets reflect.
The final couplet presents a bit of irony as in trying to present the
demise of beauty, the persona does in fact predict death contrary to what he
seemed to assert earlier in the Sonnet. It seems he is indeed just a regular
oracle after all.