Sonnet 130 by Willian Shakespeare | My mistress eyes are nothing like the sun | Sonnet 130 | Willian Shakespeare | Explanation | Summary | Key Points | Word Meaning | Critical Appreciation | Questions Answers | Free PDF Download – Easy Literary Lessons
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 by Willian Shakespeare: YouTube Link
Sonnet 130 by Willian Shakespeare Analysis
Line 1: My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Explanation: The speaker begins by rejecting the conventional comparison of a lover’s eyes to the sun. This sets the tone for the rest of the sonnet, which will deviate from the traditional Petrarchan style.
Line 2: Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
Explanation: The speaker continues to downplay his mistress’s beauty by comparing her lips to coral, but not in a flattering way. He claims that coral is “far more red” than her lips, implying that her lips are pale and lacking in vibrancy.
Line 3: If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
Explanation: The speaker further undermines the traditional portrait of beauty by comparing his mistress’s breasts to snow, but finding her complexion to be “dun,” a dull brownish color. This suggests that her skin is not the flawless white often associated with beauty in love poetry.
Line 4: If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
Explanation: The speaker concludes the first quatrain with a harsh and unflattering metaphor, comparing his mistress’s hair to “black wires.” This image serves to further challenge the conventional notion of beauty, emphasizing the woman’s naturalness and imperfections.
Line 5: I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
Explanation: The second quatrain introduces the motif of roses, another common symbol of beauty in love poetry. The speaker acknowledges that he has seen “roses damasked, red and white,” but he fails to find such “roses” in his mistress’s cheeks. This suggests that her cheeks are lacking in the vibrant colors associated with roses.
Line 6: But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
Explanation: The speaker directly states that he does not see the beauty of roses in his mistress’s cheeks. This further emphasizes the departure from conventional beauty standards.
Line 7: And in some perfumes is there more delight
Explanation: The speaker continues to highlight the imperfections of his mistress by comparing her breath to perfume. He claims that there is “more delight” in the scent of perfume than in the breath of his mistress. This suggests that her breath is not as pleasant as one might expect from a traditionally beautiful woman.
Line 8: Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
Explanation: The speaker uses the strong word “reeks” to describe the scent of his mistress’s breath. This is a jarring and unflattering image that challenges the idealized portrayal of the beloved in love poetry.
Line 9: I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
Explanation: The third quatrain shifts the focus from physical appearance to the mistress’s voice. The speaker admits that he enjoys listening to her speak, but he also acknowledges that music has a “far more pleasing sound.” This suggests that her voice is not as melodious as one might expect from a traditionally beautiful woman.
Line 10: That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
Explanation: The speaker directly compares the sound of his mistress’s voice to music, finding the latter to be more pleasing. This further emphasizes the departure from conventional beauty standards.
Line 11: I grant I never saw a goddess go;
Explanation: The speaker admits that he has never seen a goddess walk, suggesting that he does not expect his mistress to conform to unrealistic ideals of beauty. This sets the stage for the paradoxical conclusion of the sonnet.
Line 12: My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
Explanation: The speaker states that his mistress, like any other human being, “treads on the ground.” This image serves to ground the mistress in reality, further emphasizing her imperfections and humanness.
Line 13: And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
Explanation: Despite the imperfections he has described, the speaker declares his love for his mistress to be “as rare / As any she belied with false compare.” This suggests that his love is based on true affection and acceptance, rather than superficial beauty.
Line 14: As any she belied with false compare.
Explanation: The speaker concludes the sonnet by reiterating his belief that his love is unique and precious, regardless of his mistress’s departure from conventional beauty standards. This paradoxical conclusion challenges the idealized portrayal of love in traditional love poetry.
