Bri Susco
AP Literature
13 September 2010
Sonnet 130 Analysis
Sonnet 130 Analysis
In Sonnet “130” by William Shakespeare, at first glance, one might think
Shakespeare found his beloved to be unattractive, but this was not the case. “Sonnet 130”
appears as an unconventional sonnet written by Shakespeare; where the poet underplays
the beauty of the subject. The number of the sonnet may or may not reflect the order in
which Shakespeare wrote the sonnets.
According to line one, his mistress’ eyes are not like the sun, and in line two he
says her lips are not red like coral. Shakespeare goes farther to say that her breasts are not
white but dun, or a grayish color. The insults keep rolling off his tongue, lines five
through twelve explain that her cheeks are not red, her breath reeks, music is much more
pleasing than her voice, and she does not float when she walks. Shakespeare may have
met his end if he had not added the turn at line thirteen. The turn showed that
Shakespeare did in fact love his dark beauty even though she was not the desired woman.
The final two lines express that even though his mistress may not be the woman most
men fantasize about, he believes his love is rare and pure. By not glorifying his love,
Shakespeare does not mean he does not love his mistress any less; however, he just
refuses to make her something she is not.
As a successful poet, Shakespeare used several poetic devices throughout his
sonnet. In line one for example, Shakespeare negates a simile when he says “My
mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.” He shows her lack of beauty by comparing her to
beautiful objects and then saying she is nothing like them or is lacking the quality.
Shakespeare also used a metaphor in line four, “If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her
head.” Again, Shakespeare uses and object to describe his mistress in an unflattering
way; a repeating theme throughout his sonnet on the Dark Lady.
Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 130” appears to be written to insult his mistress but
instead explains his love for her even though she appears dark and not fair. Shakespeare
refuses to over indulge his mistress in praise because he may find the over exaggerated
profession of love to be superfluous. He utilizes poetic devices which include similes and
metaphors. Shakespeare’s writing was frowned upon during the Renaissance period for
lack of sensitivity but woman today might, in fact, appreciate the truth without the fluff
other poets use.