Sonnet 130

             After our discussion of Sonnet 130 in class last week I wanted to do a little more research on how Shakespeare describes the woman in the sonnet. As I mentioned in class, it seemed like Shakespeare was describing a corpse. When describing the woman, Shakespeare paints a perfect picture of a dead body. Her eyes are not bright like the sun, her lips and cheeks seem colorless, her skin is a blotchy brown, and she emanates a stench. Though these descriptions account for many of the lines in the poem, they do not account for all of them; so my theory was full of holes as I could not think of how her wired hair or how she treads on the ground could also point to a corpse.

                I then went on to do some further research and did find some articles that pointed to the idea Shakespeare was describing a body, but their theories lacked the same evidence mine did. The authors who wrote these theories were able to describe the lines I mentioned above but could not account for the lines describing her hair or how she walks. My research forced me to leave my idea that it was a corpse and continue on the idea that he was simply describing a not so attractive woman who he loves in spite of her ugliness.

                Granted, with the use of his vivid details to describe this woman, he gives her little flattery. I think it would probably be better if she was dead, then at least she would have an excuse for smelling bad and looking like death. I think this poem is actually really funny in that it is yet another sarcastic poem. Shakespeare gives the woman little praise and instead of comparing her to all these beautiful things he uses them to describe how homely looking she is.

                In an article I found online, the author actually analyzes the sonnet like we did in class. Amanda Mabillard discusses how Shakespeare is describing this uncomely woman of a dark complexion by using simple metaphors to describe what she is not. He never compares his love for her by utilizing otherworldly symbols such as Venus. In the final couplet, Shakespeare addresses the fact that he loves his mistress even “despite her lack of adornment” (Mabillard).

Mabillard, Amanda. “An Analysis of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130.” Shakespeare Online. 2000. 03/11/2013. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/sonnets/130detail.html.