It doesn’t make sense to compare women to images they can’t possibly live up to.) Tone )’And in some perfumes is there more delight’ (People tend to like perfume )’Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks’ (But my love’s breath stinks it is the opposite of perfume!)’I love to hear her speak, yet well I know’ (I like to hear her talk, but )’That music hath a far more pleasing sound’ (Music is so much nicer to listen to!)’I grant I never saw a goddess go’ (The speaker has never seen a goddess on Earth.)’My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground’ (This woman walks heavily, not gracefully.)’And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare’ (In spite of all of the above, my love is priceless!)’As any she belied with false compare.’ (She is genuine. It was lovely to look at, and it gave off a strong fragrance.)’But no such roses see I in her cheeks’ (His love’s cheeks are pale.
)’I have seen roses damask’d, red and white’ (The damasked rose was a mix of red and white, perhaps pink. This woman’s lips must be very bland, indeed!)’If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun’ (The color of her breasts is ‘dun,’ like that of a mouse – sort of a dull gray or brown.)’If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head’ (Coarse, wiry, black hair would not seem as appealing as silky, smooth hair. Sonnet 130‘My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun’ (The sun is bright and warm her eyes are cold and dull!)’Coral is far more red than her lips’ red’ (Coral is a tad orange, and even coral has more color than her lips do. Sonnet 130 illustrates how true love can come from a package that may outwardly seem unappealing.* All Partners were chosen among 50+ writing services by our Customer Satisfaction Team The poem praises the flaws of this woman who has found undeniable love.
It is unorthodox because it looks at love from a human, imperfect point of view. While this may not be the type of poem that can be found in greeting cards or that people copy to give to their lovers, it is still about love. 11-14).Īlthough this woman is not some kind of goddess and is very human, he loves her for who she is because she is an uncommon love and has no pretenses. And yet, by heaven, I think my love is rare as any she belied with false compare” (l. He says of her, “I grant I never saw a goddess go my mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground. At the end of the poem, he justifies all of the negative things said about this mistress. However, when he talks about liking the sound of her voice, a shift occurs in the sonnet. ” The woman in question is plagued with bad breath and an unpleasant voice. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know that music hath a far more pleasing sound. He says, “As in some perfumes is there more delight tan in the breath that from my mistress reeks. In lines seven through ten, he relates other objectionable things about his love. However, her unattractiveness goes beyond her physical appearance. The reader may question how he can love someone with no physically appealing qualities. Her hair is coarse and wiry and her cheeks have no color and luster. Again, she is not perceived as beautiful. If I have seen roses damasked, red and white, but no such roses see I in her cheeks” (lines 4-6). He says, “If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. Initially, it sounds as if she is being insulted instead of praised Shakespeare continues to paint an unattractive picture of this mistress. ” She is a plain woman with eyes that don’t glisten, and her lips are not seductive and her breasts are dull. They read, “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun Coral is far more red than her lips’ red if snow be white, why then her breasts are dun. The first three lines of the poem do not paint an attractive picture of the woman in question. Although this poem may not seem as romantic as his other works, it illustrates how love blossoms even if the significant other is not physically attractive. However, in “Sonnet 130,” Shakespeare illustrates a more realistic view of love. ” In this poetic work, he describes his lover in glowing terms. Many individuals are familiar with “Sonnet 18,” which begins “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day. Sonnet 130 William Shakespeare is known for writing love poetry.