Shakespeare\'s Sonnet 130 Analysis of Shakespeare\'s \"Sonnet

Shakespeare's Sonnet 130

Analysis of Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130"

William Shakespeare was a renowned poet and playwright who wrote 38 plays and more than 154 sonnets. Among these sonnets is Sonnet 130 (My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun) in which he describes the features in his mistress that he admires. This sonnet is interesting due to the nature of the comparisons. While many would use metaphors to boast that their beloved's features are far more beautiful than anything known to man, Shakespeare contends that his beloved's features are nothing like the beautiful things that are found in nature. Through his use of imagery, Shakespeare is able to detail the things that he admires in nature despite the fact that his mistress does not embody any of those qualities.

The sonnet begins with the line "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 1) which out of context could insinuate that the narrator believes that his mistress' eyes are brighter than the sun, however, as the sonnet continues, it is clear that the narrator intends to establish that his mistress' eyes do not shine as bright as the sun. The second line of the sonnet, "Coral is far more red than her lips' red" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 2) allows the reader to understand that the first line is not intended to boast that the narrator's mistress' eyes are more beautiful than the sun. This second line helps to establish that the mistress' lips, much like her eyes, are less beaming and bright than rich, red coral. The narrator continues, "If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 3). This comparison establishes that the mistress' complexion is not white, but rather is tanned. Moreover, the narrator continues to describe his mistress, "If her hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head" (Shakespeare, n.d., line 4). Through this analogy, the narrator establishes that his beloved has coarse, dark hair as opposed to fine, light colored hair. The narrator then proceeds to describe his mistress' cheeks and states that they are not as beautiful as the roses that he has seen. He states, "I have seen roses damasked, red and white,/But no such roses see I in her cheeks" (Shakespeare, n.d., lines 5-6). This comparison not only describes the color of her cheeks, but may also make reference to how soft they are, or are not. Keeping with the flower theme, the narrator states, "And in some perfumes is there more delight/Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks" (Shakespeare, n.d., lines 7-8). Not only is the narrator's breath pungent, but it also appears as though she has a scathing voice as he describes, "I love to hear her speak, yet well I know/That music hath a far more pleasing sound" (Shakespeare, n.d., lines 9-10). Through this imagery and comparison, the narrator establishes that it is not what his mistress has to say that bothers him, but rather the way that he hears it. Lastly, the narrator describes the way that his mistress moves; "I grant I never saw a goddess go;/My mistress when she walks treads on the ground" (Shakespeare, n.d., lines 11-12). Through these descriptors, the narrator contends that his beloved's beauty and grace is not other-worldly, but rather states that she is only human and walks with her feet firmly planted on the ground. Despite his mistress' imperfections, if one would call them that, the narrator argues that he would not trade her for anything. He states, "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/As any she belied with false compare" (Shakespeare, n.d., lines 13-14). This closing couplet helps to establish that it is the mistress' rare beauty that draws him to her. Furthermore, the narrator establishes that he would rather tell the truth about how he views his mistress than lie about her beauty because it does not matter what he says or how he sees her as he will love her unconditionally.