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NUMERICAL AESTHETICS IN SHAKESPEARE
Matluba Sadullaeva Akhrorovna
Asia International University.
matlyuba2002@yahoo.com
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15494106
Abstract. When discussing the literary genius of William Shakespeare, our thoughts
typically turn to his eloquent language, emotional depth, and profound exploration of the human
psyche—rarely to mathematics. However, as Rob Eastaway explores in Much Ado About
Numbers, Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets are subtly interwoven with mathematical concepts,
especially numerical symbolism. Shakespeare’s writings demonstrate a keen awareness of
numbers—not only in a literal sense but as symbolic and metaphysical tools. This article delves
into the hidden mathematical elements of his work, uncovering the spiritual and structural
significance of numbers such as two, three, and the so-called “crooked numbers.” Drawing from
examples in King Lear, Hamlet, and the sonnets, the analysis highlights the nuanced role of
numerology in Shakespearean drama.
Key words: William Shakespeare, Rob Eastaway, Much Ado About Numbers, numerology,
Arabic numerals, trinity, symbolic numbers, crooked numbers, metaphysical mathematics,
sonnets.
Introduction.
Shakespeare's masterful works have stood the test of time, becoming
cornerstones of literature and popular culture. But it's not immediately obvious that many of his
most memorable scenes are mathematically inspired. In Shakespeare's time, people were
accustomed to the idea of the infinite - the planets, the skies, the weather - but far less familiar
with the concept that the very small, and even nothingness, could be expressed by mathematical
axioms.
The word "zero" was first used in English only in 1598. Thinkers such as the Italian
mathematician Fibonacci brought the concept of zero - then known as a "cipher" - into common
usage, but it was not until the philosopher René Descartes and the mathematicians Sir Isaac
Newton and Gottfried Leibniz developed calculus that "zero" began to occupy a prominent place
in society.
One aspect that often goes unnoticed within the beauty of Shakespeare’s language is the
extent to which quantitative reasoning shaped his literary vision. From the rhythmic construction
of his verses to the symbolic employ of numerology, it is clear that Shakespeare merged the
fields of mathematics and poetic artistry by imbuing “calculative” thought into his works. Be it
measuring time, emotions, or even hinting at metaphysical concepts, numbers in his writings
were never ornamental—they had purpose. While living during what is considered the golden
age of mathematics with the advent of the Arabic numeral system and the introduction of zero,
Shakespeare incorporated this astonishing cultural change within his poetic and dramatic
writings. The verses out of Sonnet 105 show his mastery with language and deep understanding
of figures when mentioning “score,” “brace,” and even the Holy Trinity.
The deeper you look, the more it becomes evident that Shakespeare used quantification in
almost all facets of life. He used numbers for anything ranging from time, age, distances, army
sizes, and fortunes. The most interesting aspect is Shakespeare’s inventive and poetic usage of
numbers-with his deep appreciation for language.
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The struggle to come to terms with the intertwining of the very large and the very small is
beautifully portrayed in many of Shakespeare's works, including Henry V and Troilus and
Cressida. In the opening chorus of Henry V, Shakespeare demonstrates his interest in proportion
and the concept of zero through repeated "O" sounds and references to contemporary
mathematical thought.
Scholars generally agree that Shakespeare's "picaresque figure" is in fact zero, as
illustrated by the line "a crookèd figure may / Attest in little place a million," where Shakespeare
alludes to 16th-century mathematical debates surrounding the idea that the very small can
represent and influence the very large.
In other works, Shakespeare uses mathematical metaphors to surround him in moments of
crisis. In Troilus and Cressida, Shakespeare uses mathematical language to show how Troilus's
psyche slowly disintegrates after he witnesses his beloved Cressida flirting with another man.
For Troilus, Cressida disintegrates into "shares," "splinters," "bits and fat relics." In
response, Shakespeare's verse disintegrates into jagged pieces, like an early name for fractions:
"broken numbers."
Shakespeare's plays documented the crisis of classical 16th-century mathematics in the
face of new ideas. But they also offered audiences the opportunity to come to terms with these
new ideas and to see the world differently through the lens of mathematics.
Shakespeare sometimes used numbers literally — to indicate age, time, or quantity:
Sonnet 2
:
"When forty winters shall besiege thy brow..."
— "forty winters" means forty years, symbolizing aging.
Sonnet 104
:
"Three winters cold / Have from the forests shook three summers’ pride..."
— here, the mention of three years shows the beloved’s beauty hasn’t faded with time.
Numbers often symbolize the passage of time or the natural life cycles:
Sonnet 12
:
"When I do count the clock that tells the time..."
— counting time represents the fleeting nature of life.
In several sonnets, seasons of the year are linked with stages of life, and numbers help
reinforce that cycle.
I
n Sonnet 6
, Shakespeare emphasizes the number ten to advocate for procreation:
“That's for thyself to breed another thee,
Or ten times happier, be it ten for one”
Here, "ten for one" suggests that having ten children would amplify happiness tenfold.
The number ten symbolizes completeness and perfection, reinforcing the poet's argument
that procreation ensures the continuation of one's beauty and legacy.
Sonnet 12
reflects on the inevitability of aging and death:
“When I do count the clock that tells the time, And see the brave day sunk in hideous
night;”
The sonnet's number, 12, aligns with the 12 hours on a clock face, underscoring the theme
of time's relentless progression. This numerical association enhances the poem's meditation on
mortality and the transient nature of beauty
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Conclusion.
Shakespeare’s brilliance resides not only in his unparalleled mastery of
language and human sentiments but also in his sly involvement with the intellectual revolutions
of his period, which embrace the growing world of mathematics. Just as zero and the Arabic
numeral system changed the 16th and 17 centuries’ conceptualization of intellect, this dramatic
change was integrated by Shakespeare in his view of poetry and drama.
His number references were much more than mere embellishments; they were deliberate
meaningful tools to probe time, identity, emotion, and metaphysical depth. The works of
Shakespeare show a keen, intuitive understanding of mathematical thought-from the literal use of
numbers to measure years and seasons to symbolic invocations of numerology and existence-as
well as questions on nothingness.
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1.
Butler, Christopher.
Number Symbolism
. Routledge, 1970. ISBN: 0-300-08872-8.
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Blick, Fred. "Shake-speares Sonnets 12, 60 and 126: The Uses of 12, Time and
Mannerism."
Academia.edu
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(https://www.academia.edu/1244975/Shake_speares_Sonnets_12_60_and_126_the_uses_o
f_12_Time_and_Mannerism)
3.
Eftekhari, Ali. "Fractal Geometry of Literature: First Attempt to Shakespeare's Works."
arXiv preprint
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Peters, Roger.
William Shakespeare's Sonnet Philosophy
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(https://quaternaryinstitute.com/sonnetphilosophy4vols.html)
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