Reflection on "Fear no more the heat o' the sun" by William Shakespeare from "Cymbeline"

 Song: “Fear no more the heat o’ the sun” 

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(from Cymbeline)

Fear no more the heat o’ the sun,

Nor the furious winter’s rages;

Thou thy worldly task hast done,

Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages:

Golden lads and girls all must,

As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

Fear no more the frown o’ the great;

Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;

Care no more to clothe and eat;

To thee the reed is as the oak:

The scepter, learning, physic, must

All follow this, and come to dust.

Fear no more the lightning flash,

Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;

Fear not slander, censure rash;

Thou hast finished joy and moan:

All lovers young, all lovers must

Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!

Nor no witchcraft charm thee!

Ghost unlaid forbear thee!

Nothing ill come near thee!

Quiet consummation have;

And renownèd be thy grave!

Embracing the Inevitable: Finding Peace in Shakespeare's 'Fear no more the heat o' the sun'

As we read through "Fear no more the heat o' the sun" by William Shakespeare, we can feel a sense of peace and tranquility in his words. The song seems to be a reminder that death is inevitable and that we should not fear it. Shakespeare's words express the idea that death is a natural part of life and that we should embrace it without fear.

The Universal Embrace of Death

"Fear no more the heat o' the sun" is a comforting poem, as it tells us that we will no longer have to face the struggles of life once we have passed away. The line, "Thou thy worldly task hast done," suggests that we will have completed our journey on Earth and can rest peacefully. The poem speaks to the idea that death is a release from the struggles of life, and that we can find peace in it.

Shakespeare also acknowledges that death is something that everyone must face. The line, "Golden lads and girls all must, as chimney-sweepers, come to dust," suggests that even the most privileged and youthful individuals will eventually face death. This is a reminder that death is an equalizer and that it is something that we all share in common.

Release from Earthly Shackles

Shakespeare reassures the subject that they no longer need to fear the disapproval or frowns of the powerful or influential individuals. The phrase "Thou art past the tyrant's stroke" suggests that the person has moved beyond the reach of tyrants and oppressive rulers. They are now free from the harm inflicted by such figures. The individual no longer needs to worry about basic needs like clothing and food. They have transcended such concerns.The differences between fragile reeds and strong oaks hold no significance. Even the symbols of power (scepter), knowledge (learning), and medicine (physic) are temporary and will eventually decay or cease to exist. It reinforces the idea that everything in the world is transient and subject to the inevitability of death:

"Fear no more the frown o’ the great;

Thou art past the tyrant’s stroke;

Care no more to clothe and eat;

To thee the reed is as the oak:

The scepter, learning, physic, must

All follow this, and come to dust."

Embracing Transcendence and Mortality

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, the philosophic poet assures the subject that there is no need to fear sudden or shocking events, represented here by the lightning flash or the ominous or fearful sound of thunder. It suggests a release from anxiety or apprehension. It is advised not to fear false accusations or hasty criticism from others. We have transcended the earthly realm, where such judgments hold no power over us.We have completed both joy and sorrow, signifying that we have transcended the realm of human emotions. Even all young lovers, regardless of their passionate emotions, will eventually face the same fate as the subject of death and decay, and come to dust. So it highlights the universal nature of death, emphasizing that even passionate and youthful love cannot escape its ultimate fate.

"Fear no more the lightning flash,

Nor the all-dreaded thunder stone;

Fear not slander, censure rash;

Thou hast finished joy and moan:

All lovers young, all lovers must

Consign to thee, and come to dust."

Immunity to External Forces

Again, we were protected from any negative influence or enchantment by witchcraft and now so close to death. We should rather accept death with full glories and satisfactions. It emphasizes our life's immunity to external forces. Any lingering spirits or ghosts have left us in peace, suggesting that we are free from any haunting or disturbance. It conveys a sense of protection and safety in their current state of living. So we are in a state of serene completion or fulfillment, "Quiet consummation" , a peaceful and tranquil end. It is the end, death. Shakespeare concludes with the wish for our grave to be renowned or honored. It implies a sense of respect and admiration for our life and the legacy we leave behind:

"No exorciser harm thee!

Nor no witchcraft charm thee!

Ghost unlaid forbear thee!

Nothing ill come near thee!

Quiet consummation have;

And renownèd be thy grave!"

No exorciser harm thee!"

Conclusion

Overall, "Fear no more the heat o' the sun" is a reflective and contemplative poem that explores themes of mortality, acceptance of death, and the transient nature of worldly concerns. It offers reassurance to the subject, assuring them of freedom from fear, pain, and earthly troubles. It reminds us that death is a natural part of life. Shakespeare's words encourage us to embrace death without fear and to find peace in the idea that our struggles will come to an end.

Ardhendu De

References

The complete works of William Shakespeare, with a full and comprehensive life; a history of the early drama; an introduction to each play; the readings of former editions; glossarial and other notes, etc., etc., from the work of Collier, Knight, Dyce, Douce, Halliwell, Hunter, Richardson, Verplanck, and Hudson. Edited by George Long Duyckinck : Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive. (n.d.). Internet Archive. https://archive.org/details/completeworksofw00shakuoft