#sonnet 74

  The worth of that is that which it contains,   And that is this, and this with thee remains.

Source: thesonnets.tv

In this sonnet, Shakespeare finally concludes a 4-ish sonnet streak* about life, love, and death with a memoriam sonnet. The speaker is dying and they attempt to comfort their love(d) ones, through the notion of their self -- their thoughts, their deeds, their actions-- remaining. I think the most striking thing in this sonnet was the final two lines. It’s their worth, the life they lived and the lives they touched is what the ones who remain should cling to, not their physical and tangible assets. This sonnet is like a manifestation of a long standing debate of the severance of soul and body after death -- and there's nothing better to conclude that debate with a Shakespearean sonnet. Our spirit is whole, beautiful, and us, it's our better half, and it is the one what will remain when our body reduces back to dust. *not sure if the sonnets were actually connected, they just seemed like it to me. ***Read This With Thee Remains by shiptoomuch here ; heads up it comes with character death (idk its kinda obvious basing on the sonnet but anyways)

But be contented when that dreadful arrest takes me away to where there is no bail. My life will continue to some extent in this verse, which will stay with you as a memorial. When you read it again you will be reading again the very thing about me that was dedicated to you. The earth can have only the earth in me, which is what I owe it. My spirit, the better part of me, is yours, which means that you will only have lost the dregs of my life, the food of worms, preying on my dead body, the conquest of the cowardly knife of that wretch, Death, too dire to be remembered by you. The value of that body is only what it contains, and that is this poem, and it will stay with you.

Happy Shakespeare 400!

But be contented when that fell arrest Without all bail shall carry me away, My life hath in this line some interest, Which for memorial still with thee shall stay. When thou reviewest this, thou dost review The very part was consecrate to thee: The earth can have but earth, which is his due; My spirit is thine, the better part of me: So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life, The prey of worms, my body being dead; The coward conquest of a wretch’s knife, Too base of thee to be remembered.   The worth of that is that which it contains,   And that is this, and this with thee remains.

But be contented: when that fell arrest Without all bail shall carry me away, My life hath in this line some interest, Which for memorial still with thee shall stay. When thou reviewest this, thou dost review The very part was consecrate to thee: The earth can have but earth, which is his due; My spirit is thine, the better part of me: So then thou hast but lost the dregs of life, The prey of worms, my body being dead, The coward conquest of a wretch's knife, Too base of thee to be remembered.    The worth of that is that which it contains,    And that is this, and this with thee remains.

- Shakespeare's Sonnet 74