Noa BONNET-

English III – December 24, 2022

1- Who or what is the Subject of Sonnet 130?

The subject of sonnet 130 is the poet’s mistress. Indeed, Shakespeare refers to his lover’s hair, her
complexion, her eyes and lips and he’s not very nice in the description until the last lines when we
may understand, she’s not perfect because she is like all of us, an average woman.

2- What is the occasion for writing this poem?

At the Renaissance, most poets praised women as if they were goddesses working among mortal
men and it was the Renaissance version of Photoshop images making them unattainable. So, in this
sonnet 130, there is the idea of imperfect perfection as Shakespeare indicates the reality in her lover
description and contributes to make her just a woman like all of us who is attainable.

3- Who is the audience for this sonnet?

This sonnet 130 is directed to all people who don’t have to be perfect but perfectly imperfect for a
healthy relationship.

4- What is Shakespeare’s purpose in writing Sonnet 130?

Shakespeare’s purpose in writing Sonnet 130 is to keep the reality how it is and without idealizing it
or adding filters to make it perfect as nobody is perfect. He makes people seem real and attainable as
a healthy relationship is based on honesty.

5- Describe the Speaker in Sonnet 130?

The Speaker is realistic and not very romantic when he describes things about his lover that he
compares to many cliched images. In the end, he becomes more sincere and thoughtful about his
love indicating his lover is not perfect and knowing it, that makes their relationship based on
honesty.

6- What is Shakespeare’s tone in Sonnet 130?

Shakespeare uses a sarcastic and mocking tone as he criticizes the idealized images that other poets
have used. Indeed, in line 1, he uses the cliched images as “eyes like sun” to indicate that her loves
have not this kind of eyes.