Shakespeare's Venus and Adonis
'Who wears a garment shapeless and unfinish'd?
Who plucks the bud before one leaf put forth?
If springing things be any jot diminish'd,
They wither in their prime, prove nothing worth;
The colt that's back'd and burden'd being young
Loseth his pride, and never waxeth strong.
| Device | Example | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Rhetorical Questions | "Who wears a garment shapeless...?" "Who plucks the bud...?" | Appeals to common sense, making Venus's argument seem obviously logical |
| Extended Metaphor | Garments, buds, colts as analogies for human development | Compares Adonis to things that need time to mature properly |
| Natural Imagery | "bud," "leaf," "springing things," "wither," "prime" | Uses growth and seasonal cycles to argue for natural timing |
| Cause and Effect | Early interference leads to failure and worthlessness | Shows logical consequences of premature action |
| Animal Imagery | "colt that's back'd and burden'd" | Continues the horse metaphors while illustrating premature responsibility |
| Alliteration | "shapeless and," "back'd and burden'd," "waxeth strong" | Creates rhythmic emphasis on key concepts |
| Parallel Structure | Series of rhetorical questions and consequences | Builds cumulative argument through repetitive pattern |
| Irony | Venus argues against premature action while pursuing young Adonis | Her argument undermines her own behavior |
This stanza presents Venus's most sophisticated argument against premature sexual experience—ironically undermining her own pursuit of the young Adonis. She uses natural and practical metaphors to argue that early interference with development leads to permanent damage.
The Paradox of Venus's Argument: Venus argues against premature sexual experience while simultaneously trying to seduce a youth. This creates dramatic irony—her logical argument contradicts her own behavior, revealing the inconsistency in her approach.
Natural Development Theory: Venus presents a philosophy that natural things need time to develop fully before being "used." This reflects Renaissance ideas about the proper timing of human development and the dangers of rushing natural processes.
Practical Wisdom vs. Desire: The stanza shows Venus capable of wise counsel when it serves her argument, but her desire overrides her wisdom when it conflicts with her goals.
Universal Principles: The rhetorical questions appeal to universal experiences—everyone knows you don't wear unfinished clothes or pick unopened buds. This makes her argument seem obviously correct.
Economic Language: Terms like "nothing worth" introduce economic thinking—premature use destroys value. This practical argument might appeal to Adonis more than emotional pleas.
The Colt Metaphor: The image of the overburdened young horse directly parallels Adonis's situation—Venus is trying to "burden" him with adult sexual responsibility before he's ready.
Permanent Damage: Venus argues that early interference causes permanent harm ("never waxeth strong"), suggesting that sexual experience too young would damage Adonis forever.
Self-Defeating Logic: By making this argument, Venus inadvertently makes the case against her own seduction attempt. If premature sexual experience is harmful, then she should leave Adonis alone.
Adonis's Counter-Argument: This stanza provides Adonis with the perfect logical foundation for rejecting Venus—he can use her own reasoning to justify his resistance.
Gender and Power: The metaphor of the "backed and burdened" colt reflects concerns about sexual submission and domination, with Venus unconsciously positioning herself as the one who would "burden" Adonis.
This stanza demonstrates Shakespeare's psychological insight—Venus is so focused on winning her argument that she doesn't realize she's arguing against herself. It shows how desire can make even intelligent people contradict their own best judgment.