An Explication of Love: “Sonnet 130”
Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 130” is a powerful poem that describes love as something based off of more than mere beauty. The poem depicts the speaker pointing out the many imperfections of his mistress. This is a far cry from the ideal women many poets depict. An English or Shakespearean sonnet consists of fourteen lines “composed of three quatrains and a terminal couplet in iambic pentameter with the rhyme pattern abab cdcd efef gg” (“Shakespearean sonnet”). In “Sonnet 130,” Shakespeare establishes a shifting tone through the quatrain structure, words that target the senses, and a repetition of words and poem structure that can be related to many aspects of love.
When reading “Sonnet 130,” the poem shifts from a positive to a negative tone throughout the quatrain structures. A quatrain is “a stanza of four lines,” in which a sonnet has three (“quatrain”). Within the first quatrain, the third and fourth lines shift from positive to negative: …show more content…
When he describes his mistress’ eyes as nothing like the sun, it instills imagery of both sight and touch. Therefore, his mistress’ eyes are not only lacking brightness, but also warmth. The speaker also states: “But no such roses see I in her cheeks…” (Shakespeare 6). A rose’s petals are both soft to the touch and full of color. He rouses the sense of smell in lines seven and eight stating: “And in some perfumes is there more delight / Than in the breath that from which my mistress reeks” (Shakespeare 7-8). Lastly, he evokes your sense of hearing by stating: “I love to hear her speak, yet well I know / That music hath a far more pleasing sound…” (Shakespeare 9-10). All of these aspects are experiences encountered when in love and he describes them in such a way that is relatable and stands the test of time. Shakespeare’s use of repetition, and the structure of the poem is just another way his poem stands the test of
Shakespeare’s “Sonnet 130” is a powerful poem that describes love as something based off of more than mere beauty. The poem depicts the speaker pointing out the many imperfections of his mistress. This is a far cry from the ideal women many poets depict. An English or Shakespearean sonnet consists of fourteen lines “composed of three quatrains and a terminal couplet in iambic pentameter with the rhyme pattern abab cdcd efef gg” (“Shakespearean sonnet”). In “Sonnet 130,” Shakespeare establishes a shifting tone through the quatrain structure, words that target the senses, and a repetition of words and poem structure that can be related to many aspects of love.
When reading “Sonnet 130,” the poem shifts from a positive to a negative tone throughout the quatrain structures. A quatrain is “a stanza of four lines,” in which a sonnet has three (“quatrain”). Within the first quatrain, the third and fourth lines shift from positive to negative: …show more content…
When he describes his mistress’ eyes as nothing like the sun, it instills imagery of both sight and touch. Therefore, his mistress’ eyes are not only lacking brightness, but also warmth. The speaker also states: “But no such roses see I in her cheeks…” (Shakespeare 6). A rose’s petals are both soft to the touch and full of color. He rouses the sense of smell in lines seven and eight stating: “And in some perfumes is there more delight / Than in the breath that from which my mistress reeks” (Shakespeare 7-8). Lastly, he evokes your sense of hearing by stating: “I love to hear her speak, yet well I know / That music hath a far more pleasing sound…” (Shakespeare 9-10). All of these aspects are experiences encountered when in love and he describes them in such a way that is relatable and stands the test of time. Shakespeare’s use of repetition, and the structure of the poem is just another way his poem stands the test of