Shakespeare's Sonnet 130

A detailed Summary of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130

Of William Shakespeare's one hundred fifty-four sonnets, his one hundred thirtieth sonnet is one of the most intriguing to examine. Reading this poem, one can't help but realize that he was obviously a very deep, passionate and learned man; he was very open with how he felt and was able to express it in a way that was very exact and easy to comprehend. In his sonnets, which were more like entries in his diary, he talked a lot about his love life. He spends the entire Sonnet 130 pointing out the faults and shortcomings of his lover, and how he thinks any other man would be simply repulsed by this woman. We see how he conforms to the traditional structure of poetry writing yet also breaks away from traditional form by describing the object of his affections in a way never seen before. We also see that while on its surface Sonnet 130 looks like an unorthodox love poem, we will come to notice that it is also a criticism of poetry writing of the period.

Traditionally, Shakespearean sonnets are written in fourteen lines, consisting of three quatrains and a couplet, and Sonnet 130 is no exception. What sets this poem apart from the rest and makes it so intriguing is the fact that Shakespeare is not ju

Despite the fact her lips were not full, he yearned for them. Though her cheeks were not rosy, he felt her glow. Her hair was certainly not soft and her breath did not project perfume, but yet he was captivated. She couldn't sing to save her life, yet he loved to hear her voice. When she walked you would not call her graceful, but still he cherished her clumsy strides. Sonnet 130 takes the love poem to a deeper, more intimate level where looks are no longer important; it is inner beauty that touches the soul. It paints a picture of true unconditional love, giving a person hope that they too may one day find their soul mate. Written by a man who has obviously learned to love with his heart and not his eyes, Shakespeare's Sonnet 130 ends up being a true love poem, one that is more honest and touching than the poems that it sets out to parody can ever hope to be.

Clearly, Shakespeare is offering more in this poem that merely playing upon the traditional use of a blazon, which looks to describe parts of a woman's body in grand terms. He denies all the exaggerated comparisons, usually expected in a sonnet, like cheek to roses, breath to perfume, voice to music and finally woman to a goddess who does not touch the earth. He does not falsely compare her to inanimate objects; women are not like corals, roses or snow. What Shakespeare is saying here is people were not created in the image of perfection, so thei

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Approximate Word count = 952
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English