Sonnet 130: My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun
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;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.
Sonnet 130 summary| Sonnet 130 summary and explanation
Sonnet 130 compares the speaker’s lover to a number of beautiful things. The speaker is not showing favourable disposition towards his beloved. Her eyes are “nothing like the sun”, her lips are less red than coral; compared to white snow, her breasts are dun-coloured; and her hairs are like black wires on her head.
In the second quatrain, the speaker says he has seen roses separated by colour (damasked) into red and white, but he see no roses in his mistress’s cheeks; and he says the breath from his mistress is less delightful than perfume.
In the third quatrain, he admits that, though he loves her voice, music “hath a far more pleasing sound”, and that though he has never seen a goddess, his mistress — unlike goddesses — walks on the ground. In the couplet, however, the speaker declares that, “by heav’n,” he thinks his love as rare and valuable. “As any she belied with false compare” — that is, any love in which false comparisons were invoked to describe the loved one’s beauty.
Sonnet 130 line by line analysis | explanation
- Lines 1-2:
My mistress’ eyes look nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
My mistress’s eyes look nothing like the sun; coral is far more red than her lips are red.
- Lines 3-4:
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun or dull brown (in comparison); if hairs are wires, then black wires grow on her head.
- Lines 5-6:
I have seen roses damask’d, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
I have seen roses of pink, red and white, but her cheeks are none of these colours.
- Lines 7-8:
And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
And some perfumes smell more delightful than the malodorous breath of my mistress.
- Lines 9-10:
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I love to hear her speak even though I know well that music has a far more pleasing sound.
- Lines 11-12:
I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
I admit I have never seen a goddess walk, but my mistress when she walks, steps (humanly) on the ground.
- Lines 13-14:
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.
And yet I swear before heaven, I think she is just as extraordinary as any woman that may be described with false comparisons.
Sonnet 130 critical analysis
During Elizabethan age, sonnets were used to describe lively the beauty of beloveds. Petrarchan sonnet, a form of 14 lines poem was popularized by Francesco Petrarca in Italy. Petrarch(Petrarca) became famous for worshipping his love in sonnets. The form was originated in Sicily, and Petrarch elevated to a highest form of literary art. Though the sonnet form originated earlier in Sicily, Petrarch elevated it to a high literary art. His collection, the Canzoniere (or Rime sparse). Often, the beloved is described in lofty terms and contexts just like a goddess. The poems are far from reality, often exaggerated and invokes humour.
On the other hand our English poet Shakespeare is not at all interested to put his beloved on a divine pedestal. He sees her as a normal human being who has her own flaws. What can observed in the sonnet is totally intriguing. Whereas, it is very surprising for the 16th century england because people were not comfortable in belittling their beloved as Shakespeare has taken the risk in Sonnet 130.
In the first stanza, the poet is busy in dissecting the facial features of his beloved through words. the way he describes her is too difficult to believe. he commences with her eyes and says that they are nothing like the sun. Then, he goes directly to her lips which he calls less red than the coral. But in the third line, he does not hesitate to point at her breasts and calls it “dun”. This shows that the poet has been in an intimate relationship with her. however, this could be shocking for the respected society of Elizabethan England because such sexual relationships outside wedlock was prohibited. But our poet is a daring personality to speak about his sexual ventures in broad daylight and had audacity to pen it down for public readership. Then, very insultingly he calls the hairs of his mistress as black wires. in England, where brown and blonde colours was preferred more, we see the beloved’ hair is black and that too curly.
In stanza two, he again embarks on insulting his lady and say that her cheeks radiate no rosiness. Moreover, he calls the breath of the woman as if it reeks. Reek is a word which is often used for something that smells bad. So, the poet says that nothing like sweet-smell comes from her breadth.
Then, he is interested in the voice of his lady and calls it cacophonous implicitly.It is not harmonious to ears. Also, his mistress is a human who walks on the earthly land instead of heavenly path. What can be observed in the sonnet is that, Shakespeare is treating his beloved as a human being and not as a goddess. However, he is using insulting terms and subtly underlined with mosogynistic tone. He is not obsessed with exhibiting his mistress as a divine being which is true. She has been given space to behave like an earthly woman with all her flaws.
The turning point comes in the couplet where he says that his love is as precious as any love falsely glorified by exaggerated comparisons. So, he loves her as a human being loves another human being. So, it is ironical to see that the poet loves her but he is insulting at the same time.
Structure and Form
Shakespearean Sonnet
The poem follows the Shakespearean sonnet structure:
14=12+2
- 14 lines
- Three quatrains (4 lines each)
- One concluding couplet (2 lines)
Rhyme Scheme
ABABCDCDEFEFGG
The final couplet provides the poem’s central message.
Sonnet 130 tone and mood
Tone
- Humorous
- Satirical
- Honest
- Affectionate
Mood
- Amused
- Reflective
- Sincere
- Warm
Sonnet 130 Themes
1. True Love and Realism and Individuality
The poem argues that genuine love does not depend on unrealistic standards of beauty. The speaker loves his mistress for who she truly is. The speaker transgresses the decorum of Elizabethan love of worshipping his beloved. he provides her the space to breathe like a human and to be loved like a human. But he is also terribly critical at the same time. He uses all the terms not befitting to show love which is quite ironical. even though he decides his love to be humanistic he is not at all sympathetic in describing his lady. Moreover, it is generally considered a woman should never be talked off in an insulting way. But being a lover, the speaker is showing his audacity to describe his beloved as he wishes.
The poet assumes an individual stance of confessing his love which is unique. This type of love is unique in the sense as none of the lovers never disrespected their beloveds. But the poet assumes the role of a ruthless critic who is severely rude with his words.
2. Criticism of Conventional Love Poetry and Appearance versus Reality
Shakespeare mocks the exaggerated comparisons commonly used in Renaissance love poetry. Shakespeare attempts to flip the melodramatic way of loving one’s love. His action shows that there is enough of such bombastic confessions of love. He decided to show love in an ironical way for which the Elizabethans were not ready. The readers are confused to decide whether the author loves his beloved or not. Previously, in Petrarch’s time, the trend of treating the beloved as angel commenced. The English poets started to adapt the Petrachan manner of treating their love as Petrarch loved his Laura. Shakespeare his dismantling all the melodrama in love. He decides to be human but brutally rude. He shows his love as precious but the affection is mocking in nature. This is the intriguing quality of this sonnet.
Literary Devices
Simile
Shakespeare uses comparisons only to reject them.
Example:
“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.”
Imagery
The poem creates vivid sensory images involving sight, smell, hearing, and touch.
Irony
The poem appears critical of the mistress’s appearance but actually celebrates authentic love.
Hyperbole (Mocked)
Traditional hyperbolic comparisons are presented and then overturned.
Alliteration
Example:
“My mistress” – repetition of the m sound.
Important Lines
“I love to hear her speak, yet well I know”
This line demonstrates that the speaker appreciates his mistress despite recognizing her imperfections.
“And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare”
This is the turning point of the poem.
“As any she belied with false compare”
The conclusion states that his love is as precious as any love falsely glorified by exaggerated comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main theme of Sonnet 130?
The main theme is true love based on reality rather than idealized beauty.
Why is Sonnet 130 called an anti-Petrarchan sonnet?
Because it rejects the exaggerated praise and unrealistic comparisons typical of Petrarchan love poetry.
What is the rhyme scheme of Sonnet 130?
ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.
What is the tone of Sonnet 130?
The tone is humorous, satirical, and ultimately affectionate.
What is the message of Sonnet 130?
Real love does not require false praise or impossible standards of beauty; it values a person as they truly are.