Sonnet 130

• Shakespearean/English sonnet
• 3 Quatrains
Form and • 1 Rhyming couplet
• Rhyme scheme: abab; cdcd; efef;
structure • A parody, of the conventional love sonnet.
• Metre: Iambic pentameter, with ten syllables and
a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables
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.
 • Escape from Idealism – Shakespeare does not idealise his
beloved. She in unlike the Petrarchan ideal – she is “real”, and he
loves her despite her imperfections. He states clearly in the
couplet that people who describe their partners with idealised
comparisons, are liars. This emphasises the absurdity of Idealism.

Theme • Femininity – This sonnet addresses the problem of stereotyping

female beauty by setting unreachable standards for it. The fixed
‘definition’ of beauty is unrealistic and will make females inferior
by not achieving the ideal standards of beauty. He questions real
love – we should love our partners in spite of their imperfections.

• Love – The speaker expresses his love for his beloved. He

describes his values of love. He states that real love is not based
on outwards appearances and idealised looks. His love is based
on connection and emotion, not the superficial.
Sonnets
Usually catalogues the
characteristics and virtues
of the beloved.
Elegant, elevated language
is used for over-the-top
comparisons
 • This is sonnet number 130 in a series
of 154 sonnets.
• It parodies(makes fun) the famous
and often over-the-top Petrarchan
sonnets in which poets described
Why did Shakespeare their partners in highly exaggerated
and unrealistic ways.

write this poem? • Although this poem contains similar

themes as found in traditional
sonnets (Female Beauty, Love and
Admiration), Shakespeare does not
idealise his beloved. He describes her
in ways which are realistic and,
therefore, more accurate and ‘real’.
 In this sonnet, Shakespeare ridicules the courtly
love tradition where a lover idealises and idolises
his loved one.
He emphasizes the strength of his love for an
imperfect, but very real woman.

Content At first, he seems to feel nothing positive towards

his love, but in the final couplet his sincere love
for her is evident.
Literally this poem lists characteristics of the
speaker’s loved one.

Figuratively the speakers mocks society for what

is considered the “perfect woman”.
In Shakespeare’s time Negative comparison
“mistress” was a more general (simile) not like the sun
reference meaning "my love" (radiant)
or "my darling."

1.My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

She has very ordinary eyes. They lack lustre (shine). Not
as bright as the sun.
A red, pinkish
colour

2. Coral is far more red than her lips' red;

Her lips are quite pale compared to coral.
 A dull grey/brown colour

3. If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

To have a snow white complexion was considered to be a

good attribute in Shakespeare’s time. His mistress has a
dull complexion
 Thread like
Not a pretty picture.

4. If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

Metaphor: Her hair is compared to
black wires as it is not soft and flowing,
but hard and spiky. This is a very abrupt
and off-putting description.
 Decorated with patterns
5. I have seen roses damask'd, red and white,
6. But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
She does not have blushed cheeks with a pale complexion,
which was considered to be attractive. This is also an image
of good health, but his mistress does not have this quality.
7. And in some perfumes is there more delight

8. Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

Some perfumes are far more fragrant than the smell of her
breath. This is particularly shocking and offensive.
 Slight change in the poet’s description of his mistress.
There are more positive references than before.

9. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

10. That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

He loves to hear her speak, but the sound of music is more

gentle/pleasing to hear than the sound of her voice.
 He admits that he had never seen a goddess move.
11. I grant I never saw a goddess go;

12.My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:

She is not a goddess that floats or glides when she

walks. She is a very real person who is grounded and
just plain human.
 IRONIC: He denies that she possesses any heavenly
qualities, yet he swears by heaven.
13. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
14. As any she belied with false compare.
The speaker thinks that his mistress is as wonderful and unique
("rare") as any woman ("any she") who was ever misrepresented
("belied") by an exaggerated comparison ("false compare").
The couplet drives home the speaker's main point, that unlike
other people who write sonnets, he doesn't need flowery terms or
fancy comparisons. He can just tell his mistress, plainly and simply,
that he loves her for who she is.
Tone: Mocking conventional sonnets but serious in his meaning

Mood: Humorous

Theme: Real love doesn’t need false tributes, any woman can be
beautiful.

Diction: Mocks the language of a typical Petrarchan love sonnet

that uses elegant comparisons. The poet describes his love using
the opposite of what is expected, describing her as she really is.