Ashlee Smith Discussion 4

Interpreting a poem involves a combination of an open mindset and analytical skill.

“Sonnet 130” by William Shakespeare is a poem that takes an unconventional approach to a standard love poem. In order to engage with this poem, I found myself having to suspend my expectations of the content of the poem and kept an open mindset. The poem opens with the lines “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; / Coral is far more red than her lips’ red” (1-2). These two opening lines are initially misleading but set the tone for what to expect for the rest of the poem. Analyzing these lines, we realize Shakespeare is acknowledging the flaws of his lover. As we keep reading, we must keep an open mind about how Shakespeare describes her. He uses sensory imagery to convey a less idealized picture of his lover, emphasizing that she doesn’t adhere to the traditional standards of beauty. We see this in the lines where he states “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” (4-6). The tone of the poem is playfully affectionate despite initial indications that Shakespeare might be critical of his lover. The poem ends with the lines “And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare / As any she belied with false compare” (13-14). Through analysis we see that the poem circles back to the idea that Shakespeare is indeed praising his love for this woman in an unconventional way.