Poetry · Chapter
LXXII explained
The speaker urges his beloved to forget him after his death rather than falsely praise him, fearing that any exaggerated tribute would make their love seem untrue.
What happens
The speaker urges his beloved to forget him after his death rather than falsely praise him, fearing that any exaggerated tribute would make their love seem untrue. He prefers his name to be buried with his body, ashamed of his own unworthiness and the worthlessness of what he produces.
Themes in this chapter
Truth and Deception
The speaker fears that virtuous lies and false praise would make true love seem false, preferring honest oblivion over dishonest remembrance.
Time and Mortality
The speaker contemplates his own death and the legacy of his name, wishing it to be buried with his body to avoid future shame.
Characters to notice
- William Shakespeare
The speaker who expresses shame about his own worth and fears posthumous false praise.
- Love
Personified as the beloved's true affection, which might be tainted by dishonest praise.
Key passages
“O, lest the world should task you to recite What merit lived in me, that you should love After my death, dear love, forget me quite, For you in me can nothing worthy prove;”
I fear that after I die, the world will ask you to list my good qualities, but since you can find nothing worthy in me, it would be better to forget me entirely.
The speaker anticipates posthumous scrutiny and prefers erasure over false praise.
“My name be buried where my body is, And live no more to shame nor me nor you.”
Let my name be buried along with my body, so it no longer brings shame to either of us.
The speaker wishes for complete oblivion to avoid dishonor.
“For I am shamed by that which I bring forth, And so should you, to love things nothing worth.”
I am ashamed of what I produce, and you should be ashamed too for loving something so worthless.
The speaker expresses deep self-criticism and warns the beloved against valuing him.