Fear No More Essays - Kings Men, William Shakespeare, Poetry

Fear No More William Shakespeare utilizes simplistic language to emphasize the themes in "Fear no more;" however, he exercises complex metaphors to depict the struggles one undergoes during a lifetime and as a result urges the reader to overcome all melancholic sentiments that lead one to oppose a peaceful death. The diction applied in "Fear no more" efficiently creates emphasis on specific sections of the poem. In addition, the euphonic flow used by Shakespeare illustrates the author's serenity and resignation towards the subject at hand. In essence, Shakespeare's "Fear no more" employs rhetorical devices such as repetition, appeal to the audience, and imagery to reveal the desired theme. The fundamental theme of this poem is regarding the significance of succumbing to death, for after having a full life everyone must fearlessly face the end. In addition, the poem emphasizes that one should not fight against the arrival of death in any of its forms. In fact, this argument is first introduced in the title and further displayed throughout Shakespeare's poem. In the first line of all three stanzas, the author begins with the phrase, "Fear no more," openly showing his belief that one should willingly submit to mortality. Furthermore, the poem's theme is displayed through the phrase "all must ... come to dust." By acknowledging that death is inevitable for all of humanity, the author attempts to emphasize his belief that one should not "fear" fate. The theme of the poem is also reinforced through repetition. For example, to emphasize his stance, the author repeats the phrase, "Fear no more" in the first line of the first, second, and third stanza of the poem. Once again this occurs with the phrase, "must... come to dust" in the fifth and sixth line of the first, second, and third stanza. This is of importance Vidal 2 because it reiterates that the author's main purpose is to instill the notion that one should not struggle against mortal defeat because it will eventually come upon everyone, including those that have attained fulfillment from life. In the first two stanzas of Shakespeare's poem, the theme is applied to a wide audience that may have different fears. In the first stanza Shakespeare explains that one should, "Fear not the heat o' the sun, /Nor the furious winter's rages" for everyone including "Golden lads and girls all must, / As chimney-sweepers, come to dust." Through these ideas, the author seems to be asking his audience, the young and wealthy ("Golden") as well as the older and poor ("chimney-sweepers"), to appreciate the good things in life and not to preoccupy themselves with insignificant things such as the changes in the elements. In addition, he is expressing the opinion that death will follow one's life, whether good or bad, and is not something to dread because everyone will, at one point or another, have to endure it's arrival. Throughout the rest of the poem, he continues to stress this idea by addressing different fears and other types of people. Next, the author urges the reader to no longer fear the "frown o' the great" or the "tyrant's stroke" because even the "scepter, learning, [and] physic, must/ All follow this, and come to dust" (stanza 2). Through these ideas, the poet shows that he wants the reader to lead a carefree life and not be anxious about what others may think or do. Furthermore, these lines also emphasize Shakespeare's thought that regardless of one's status as royalty, philosopher, or doctor one should not attempt to fight death. Overall, by incorporating diverse groups of people as well as different fears each may have, Shakespeare is able to convey his message of willful surrender to death. Lastly, the poet uses the third stanza to bring together the ideas of the first two stanzas in order to emphasize his position, however he adds a twist that stresses the importance of this concluding stanza. For example, he asks the reader, as in the previous stanzas, not to be alarmed by nature ("lightning-flash," the "dreaded thunder-stone,") or by those who will attempt to hurt Vidal 3 one with careless words or actions ("slander, censure rash"). As opposed to the other stanzas, the third does not urge the reader to ignore the small trifles in life. This idea is seen as Shakespeare continues this final thought by stating, "Thou hast finished joy and moan. / All lovers young, all lovers must / Consign to thee, and come to dust." This statement attempts to show that once one is dead one can no longer enjoy the happiness ("joy") or