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By: Joe Vicciardo, Christiana Shovlin, Amy Veasey, Rachel Strauss, Michelle Jajko. SONNET 130. Quatrain 1. 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.
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By: Joe Vicciardo, Christiana Shovlin, Amy Veasey, Rachel Strauss, Michelle Jajko SONNET 130
Quatrain 1 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.
Quatrain 1 Analysis • Line 1: My mistress’ eyes aren’t bright • Line 2: Her lips aren’t red • Line 3: Her breasts are not white • Line 4: Her hair is stringy and mangled
Quatrain 2 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
Quatrain 2 Analysis • Line 5: I have seen many types of roses together • Line 6: But her face does not have the beauty of any type • Line 7: She does not have a nice smell • Line 8: Her breath does not smell sweet
Quatrain 3 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
Quatrain 3 Analysis • Line 9: I love to listen to her voice but I know • Line 10: That its sound is not as pleasing as music • Line 11: I admit I never saw a goddess walk • Line 12: But my mistress does not walk with grace
Couplet And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.
Couplet Analysis • Line 13: Though, the speaker swears his love is more unique • Line 14: And no other woman can compare
Theme • Loving someone despite their flaws • Inner beauty is what matters • In the poem, Shakespeare emphasizes the characteristics that his mistress or love does not possess. Ultimately, he looks beyond her physical features and appreciates her inner beauty. These common themes are expressed throughout his sonnet continuously. • “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;”. • This line demonstrates William Shakespeare's initial insults towards his mistress’ appearance. • “And yet , by heaven, I think my love as rare. As any she belied with false compare”. • This couplet exemplifies that Shakespeare developed a change of heart and recognized the woman’s inner beauty.
Placement and Importance of Sonnet 130’s Couplet • The couplet plays an important role in the sonnet, giving the reader a final lasting impression. In sonnet 130, the couplet establishes an overall loving tone as opposed to the beginning lines which appear to be very critical.
Literary Devices • Consonance and Imagery • “I have seen roses damasked, red and white” • Assonance • “That music hath a far more pleasing sound”. • Alliteration • “My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground”.