William Shakespeare incorporated several poetic devices into Sonnet 130 such as metaphor, personification, repetition, and alliteration. Find a specific quote from the poem that exemplifies one of these techniques and analyze how it effectively conveys Shakespeare's message.
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 damask'd, 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.
14 comments:
Throughout his sonnet, Shakespeare uses many metaphors to describe his mistress, though not always in a positive light. The first line of the sonnet contains the metaphor "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun". While most metaphors say that something is LIKE something else, this metaphor portrays the woman's eyes as NOT like the sun. This happens again in line 6, in which his mistress' cheeks are said to NOT resemble roses. Shakespeare uses these negative metaphors for a purpose. By not claiming that his mistress is a goddess, or that her eyes look like the sun, he is portraying her as human, beautiful in her own way. While many poets exaggerate their lovers' beauty, Shakespeare is realistic and satirically humorous, explaining that even though his mistress is not perfect, he still loves her for who she is.
This sonnet is clearly a parody of the typical love sonnet made famous by other poets of this time period, and is in a sense a tribute to one of Shakespeare's undesirable mistresses. It is apparent that he does not think very highly of her beauty, and uses a variety of metaphors to prove this. As Andrea said, he intentionally uses metaphors that refute claims regarding it.
However, he personifies his mistress as a type of "goddess," even though he admits that he "never saw a goddess go." Shakespeare masterfully shows her as a human, abundant with flaws, yet one that can be loved as passionately as any other, which falls back into the pattern of conventional love sonnets of the time period.
His mockery of her simplicity through metaphor ("I love to her her speak, yet well I know/ That music hath a far more pleasing sound") in a sense proves his love for her, and shows that despite the flaws, his love for her is what triumphs in the end.
Repetition is definaly used by Shakespeare in his Sonnet 130. He continuously adresses the woman in his poem as 'My mistress', but clearly she is more than just a mistress to him in his heart. He may not enjoy her looks, but considers her "a goddess". The irony that his goddess is nothing more than a normal mortal shows how her beauty, although not exaggerated through the poem, is something unique and special to Shakespeare.
Adressing the woman over and over again as "My mistress", shows readers that this is all she is to him. He never mentions her name, making their relationship seem impersonal or secretive. However,'My' is very possessive, and through its repetition, shows that he definately considers her his possession.
The repetition implored, specifically through the use of "My mistress" effectively conveys Shakespeares message that just 'a mistress' can be someone who you love, even if she is not perfectly beautiful.
In Shakespeare’s poem, the element of metaphor is used repeatedly to compare his mistress with inanimate objects. It is quite obvious that the poet is fonder of these objects than he is of the lady in question when it comes to physical attraction.
The comparative lines: “Coral is far more red than her lips' red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;” provide excellent examples of such metaphors. Coral and snow are two objects compared to certain sexual elements of the woman’s body. Shakespeare makes certain that the reader understands the obvious beauty displayed by the snow and coral, which his “mistress” lacks.
These types of metaphorical comparisons truly deliver the poet’s purpose. It is clear that elements of nature seem more beautiful to Shakespeare than does his mistress. Although this is apparent, the reader is able to feel his love for her in the concluding lines: “And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare as any she belied with false compare.”
"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;"
Shakespeare uses imagery to portray his lover. He includes images such as dim eyes and poorly-colored lip. The images used throughout the poem are those typically used to compare beautiful things to one's lover. Shakespeare, in his ever so famous irony, uses these images as a contrast to his lover. He shows how she is not pretty or pleasant to be around but instead is ugly and her breath smells funny.
All of these answers are very good and thorough! Nicely done!
Shakespeare's message is that love is not typically the poetic splendor that it is too often made out to be. He describes his lover using similies, writing that her "eyes are nothing like the sun." He also employs metaphors to show that her hair is made of wires, that her breath is not as delightful as perfume, and that her cheeks are not rosey. By such comparisons the reader imagines that his lover is pallid, nearly lifeless, since her eyes never sparkle like the sun. Yet we know that the narrator is truely in love, as he is possesive of the woman, describing her as, "my mistress." He says that his love is rare, a true love. He does not need the warm and glowing beauty of love. His love is an inward attraction, an obsession with his lover's very being, encompassing the positive and the negative traits.
In Shakespeare's 130th Sonnet he utilizes a variety of poetic devices in order to poke fun at cliched love poems. Irony is possibly the most effective of such devices in this poem. The speaker is constantly comparing the woman with whom he is in a relationship to unattractive objects. "If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head." A traditional, genuine poem of love would never make such a negative comment. Also, he mixes up tradition with his parody by claiming that elements of nature are far more stunning than his love interest. Another example of irony from this sonnet is in line 12. After mentioning a goddess in the previous line, many poems would relate the stride of his mistress to an act only descriptive of the gods. However, with humor, Shakespeare merely states that when his mistress walks, nothing but walking is occurring.
"And in some perfumes is there more delight/Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks."
What Shakespeare is trying to do with this sonnet is mesh reality and fantasy. Like Anne Stuart commented, he is definitely making an ironic point towards cliche love poems. When most of us read sonnets, we automatically start searching for catchy/cliche metaphors, diction, and allusions to ancient greek/rome(especially when reviewing a poem from this period.) However, Shakespeare tries to convey that love is more real than it is fantastical. Yet somewhere in this letdown, a strong and passionate bond between two people can exist.
The above lines are great examples of personification. In giving perfume the ability to stimulate human satisfaction, Shakespeare is able to more effectively contrast the less attractive scent of his mistress. Although perfume can provide quick satisfaction, it cannot love like a human can, despite this characterized human capability.
Shakespeare is poking fun at the love sonnets of this era. This poem is sarcastic and very refreshing to hear. Love sonnets can become quite monotonous after a while. Through the use of metaphors, Shakespeare describes his love for a woman with imperfections. He doesn’t epitomize her as some surreal being; he describes her as real person that we can relate to. He is hinting that we should love people for their shortcomings, because they are what make people unique.
A metaphor is used in the second line which reads, “Coral is far more red than her lips' red.” He is pointing out that her lips are dull in color. Instead of complimenting her good features, he is highlighting on of her flaws. This technique is used in other parts of the poem such as line four. He compares her hair to “black wires.” This comparison is certainly not flattering. It is somewhat offensive how Shakespeare crosses the line, but these series of insults are what make the poem so interesting. Shakespeare uses metaphors to enhance his mockery of the typical love sonnet.
Shakespeare uses metaphors throughout the sonnet, however they are not used in a positive light. He says her lips are not as red as coral and her cheeks do not resemble roses. He uses these metaphors to accurately depict that though certain characteristics about her could be compared to the beauty of other things, she is still more of a copy of the true elegance of nature than actually a part of it. However, he does conclude that though he does not overly flatter his mistress the way other over-eager lovers may, he loves her just as much if not more because he is aware she's not any sort of goddess and he still loves her unconditionally.
"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red;"
In this sonnet Shakespeare compares his mistress' eyes to the sun. He makes the case that her eyes are very different from the sun. Though the sun is beautiful and glowing, it has little in common with his mistress' eyes. Though they may be beautiful, reality is that they can't be compared to the sun. Likewise, other parts of nature are very different from parts of his mistress. For example, coral has a very different shade of red from his mistress' lips and no roses are present in his mistress' cheeks.Shakespeare expresses the reality that one isn't always perfect and one doesn't always look spectacular. Over time the attraction that brings people too closer can wane. In fact, physical attraction isn't constant nor stable. For this reason, a couple need much more to remain together. Through Shakespeare's use of imagery, he tells us, the reader, his story.
Shakespeare refers repeatedly to "my mistress." But one must question whether she was indeed his "mistress" or his obsession. He has perfected his mistress in his mind. Although he concedes her flaws in his speech. He says that music is far more pleasing than her voice, and that her breath is not more pleasing than many perfumes. But he remains obsessed, fixated on her.
Andrea, great job at portraying the mistress as being human.
Meera, interesting interpretation taking into account parody and mockery.
Ashley, great analysis of the use of repetition.
Kelsey, terrific job discussing metaphorical comparisons.
Tripp, good job with imagery.
Alice, great job in showing how the persona is in love with the real human behind it all!
Anne Stuart, I'm glad you called attention to the irony.
Coleen, Thanks for calling attention to the personification!
Deidre, I like how you saw the persona as not a surreal being!
Abby, great comment of how she is a "copy of the true elegance of nature"
Alyssa, yes Shakespeare does tell a story through imagery.
John, he is indeed obsessed!
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