Logan Goodwin
2/18/15
English 1 Pre AP
Comparative Essay
In Shakespeare’s poem “Sonnet 73” the author addresses the idea of aging and youth through metaphors of fire and winter to express his desire to be remembered. Similarly in Ray Bradbury’s “Dandelion Wine” the author makes an attempt to do the same thing by relaying the story of a family in the small town of Greentown where their ideals and morals are tested on a daily basis. These literary works spread the theme of being remembered after death by expressing views about the idea of youth, the rift between generations, and the idea of time.
In both “Sonnet 73” and “Dandelion Wine” both authors spread their theme of not being forgotten after death through the expression of youth. For example, Shakespeare uses the “the glow of such fire” and “on the ashes doth lie on his youth” to establish the idea of a young person having a fiery soul. By using this metaphor Shakespeare creates a fiery glow around the younger generation and as they get older it gets snuffed out by the bringer of death. Similarly, Bradbury presents his idea of youth by expressing the epiphany of a young boy. For example, when Doug is just beginning his summer adventures he realizes that “I am truly alive… I mean I knew it before, or if I did I didn’t remember.” By this epiphany Bradbury shows that in our young and rueful adventures we find that inner glow, that similarly Shakespeare talks about, and can really live. Therefore, both authors link their ideas of youth to produce the genesis for the theme of not wanting to be forgotten after death.
Both authors link their ideas of the rift between generations in the context of their literary works. For example, in “Sonnet 73” Shakespeare uses a metaphor referring to the day and night cycle by reflecting on the “twilight of such day” and “the black night doth take away” By showing the difference between night and day he express the bright sun of a youth’s soul and the nightly moon of an elder’s heart. Similarly, Bradbury reveals this theme in his novel by showing Grandfathers feelings about cutting the grass. For example, when outside his home with Bill Forester, Grandfather expresses by saying “when you’re my age you’ll find out it’s the little savors and little things that count more than the big ones.” By writing this piece of dialogue Bradbury is linked to Shakespeares “night and day” difference by expressing the elder generations view on the events of life. Therefore, both authors spread their theme of remembrance through showing the elder and younger generational rift through the sentimental value of events in ‘one’s life’.
Finally both authors show how time can play an affect on the remembrance after death theme. Shakespeare presents time through metaphors of fall turning to winter in that the “time of the year thou mayst behold” and “these boughs shake against the bitter cold.” These representations of a tree’s experience in the harsh winter snow expresses how all mighty things must come to an end and die. Similarly, Bradbury expresses his view of time through the epiphany of Leo Auffman at the destruction of the “Happiness Machine”. For example, after the destruction of the machine Leo exclaims “The first thing you learn in life is your a fool, the last thing is you’re the same fool” By expressing Leo’s anger Bradbury creates an understanding of time in how it can beat a person’s body and soul to the limit but it can never strip away the human curiosity and innocence. This is linked back to Shakespeare by expressing that even though the tree does die and the branches fall the roots still remain and can be a genesis for the next one in it’s place. Therefore, both authors express their want to be remembered after death by showing how though physically they may be gone their works and ideals will carry on their memory for generations to come.
In both pieces of literature the authors spread their want to not be forgotten by expressing their ideas of youth, generational rift, and death to carry on their legacy. Both authors in the end created two literary works that will have their names written down and cherished by those of each passing generation and keep their theme of not wanting to be forgotten even after their deaths.