In the novel Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury and “Sonnet 73” by William Shakespeare, they both explore the topic of aging by giving examples of characters like Mrs. Loomis and Mrs. Bentley, and by giving metaphors showing the process of our decline or diminishing. Whether the experience occurs in a small town or is likened to aspects of nature, both involve the theme of when one’s life is fading away they might expire with the knowledge that they lived, loved,and lavished life. This theme of living life to the fullest is seen through old age, youth’s perspective, and the want to be valued.
In Dandelion Wine Bradbury presents us with characters who struggle with old age. For example, Mrs. Loomis struggles with old age and describes, “ a body like this is a dragon, all scales and folds. So the dragon ate the white swan.” Mrs. Loomis feels a gap between her and William Forester because of the age difference between the two of them. Similarly, In “Sonnet 73” Shakespeare describes in his opening stanza , “When yellow leaves , or none, or few, do hang upon those boughs which shake against the cold.” Shakespeare presents us with a comparison of a dying tree to a fading person. Thus, both of the authors share the particular view that death is inevitable, and no matter how hard one might fight and struggle against old age that person will still fatigue and retire from their present world.
Mrs. Bentley is an elderly woman who is insecure about her age and past. Bradbury exploits Mrs. Bentley’s insecurities through a group of ignorant ten-year-olds who don’t understand the concept of aging due to their lack of experience on the matter. For example, when Tom, Alice, and Jane confront Mrs. Bentley they ask questions like “How old are you?”, yet afterwards they refuse to believe what Mrs. Bentley offers to them, “My mother says it isn’t nice to fib”,said jane “Of course it isn’t. It’s very bad,” agreed Mrs.Bentley “And not to listen to fibs.” The youths perspective of Mrs. Bentley is that she is old and always will be old. Similarly, Shakespeare depicts a contrast of a glowing fire to old ashes, “In me thou seest the glowing of such fire
That on the ashes of his youth doth lie.” Mrs. Bentley still carries around the ashes of her youth and when a group of kids tease don’t oblige to her, her insecurities grow and grow. Therefore, Both authors depict a scene of old-to-new, and they believe that youth may not yet understand life and its processes, however they should try to seek knowledge from the elderly.
Throughout Dandelion Wine and “Sonnet 73”, Bradbury and Shakespeare convey to us a similar theme of wanting to be valued and remembered as an elderly person. For example, Colonel Freeleigh is an old man who has been around the block, and more importantly he remembers most of it. When Doug and his friends find the Colonel they quickly bestow the title of “Time Machine” upon him. Colonel Freeleigh realizes his importance soon afterwards, “and-you’re right! Why didn’t I think of it before! A Time Machine, by God, a Time Machine!”. As a keeper of knowledge and wisdom Colonel Freeleigh discovers that he should share it to the youth and their generation. Similarly, In “Sonnet 73” Shakespeare explores the topic of death and remembrance. For example, he depicts a scene of death as a being, “Death’s second self, that seals up all in rest.” It is interpreted that death first takes a person’s physical body and then later on it takes the memory of that person so he is forgotten. However, Colonel Freeleigh found away to fend off “Death’s second Self”. His Shared knowledge put value into his life and prolonged his memory as the boys conversed and thought of him. Thus, both of the authors believe that it is important to share our information to youth so that we may be remembered.
Overall, Bradbury and Shakespeare share similar themes in their works. Whether one is old or young, that person should try to learn and find their importance to the world so that they might be remembered and be at ease with their old age, and eventually fade away with the knowledge that they lived, loved, and lavished life.