Jonsons To the Memory of My Beloved, The Author, Mr. William Shakespe

Jonsons To the Memory of My Beloved, The Author, Mr. William Shakespeare, and What He Hath unexpended Us Zeus, Apollo, Hermes, Shakespeare. Not often is the Bard included in a list of mythological gods. In fact, he is rarely thought of in connection with Greek and Roman mythology at all. Today, Shakespeare is hailed as one of the spectacular playwrights of the English language, and is perhaps the most prominent, most studied of the English playwrights. nevertheless this was not the case in 1623, when Ben Jonson wrote his poem, To the Memory of My Beloved, The Author, Mr. William Shakespeare, and What He Hath Left Us. Shakespeare died in 1616, and despite his popularity as a playwright of his day, he was hardly a household name, and had certainly not achieved the position of admiration which he holds today. Jonsons poem is one of the first attempts to take Shakespeare beyond merely a popular playwright. His respect and esteem for the Bard is made plain in the poem, bu t Jonson has written practically more than just a eulogium for his deceased friend. Through the style of his poem, and the various comparisons and the images used, Jonson attempts to immortalize Shakespeare, mythologizing him and bestowing upon him a god-like status. Jonson was evidently close friends with Shakespeare. He had so much respect for Shakespeares giving that he feels grossly inadequate in praising him, and he states that no man or muse can praise Shakespeare too much (l. 4). Praise is clearly the purpose of this poem, however, and despite his professed inadequacy, Jonson intends to try his hand at extolling the great writer and giving him the recognition which he says all workforce can agree that Shakespeare deserves. He doesnt mean to do this in... ... verso to some opinions, Jonson feels Shakespeares talent is remarkable, so remarkable that it deserves to be remembered on the highest level possible, that of the gods. Shakespeares relief valve and i mmortalization as a constellation is sanely bittersweet, for although it awards Shakespeare the recognition Jonson feels he deserves, Jonson laments the absence of Shakespeares inspiring talent, saying since thy flight from hence, hath mourned like night, / And despairs the day but for thy volumes light (l. 79-80). Jonson recognizes agelessness in Shakespeares writings that he feels is on the same level as the Greek and Roman myths which have lasted for centuries. It is on this recognition that he bases his line of credit for Shakespeares status as a god. Jonson sums up this argument in line 43 of his poem. Shakespeare is not of an age, but for all time.