Sonnet 130 is about a man describing his mistress in ways that are compared to a supposed perfect woman. He is describing her characteristics compared to what a perfect woman might have. The way he describes her makes it seem very negative because she has none of the traits that he is stating. He says "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;Coral is far more red than her lips' red;...." He is saying that she doesn't have extremely bright eyes or perfect red lips. Instead she is a more down to earth woman that is anything but perfect. This is the problem of the sonnet, that his mistress isn't the ideal and perfect woman. The resolution is that he doesn't think that any woman would live up to these ridiculous standards. He is saying that she is beautiful in her own way as a woman with normal traits and not god like and unlikely looks.
I feel that this resolution is a true theme in this modern day and age. People have these images in our heads of what a perfect girl or boy looks life and we expect them to look this way. This is almost impossible to achieve because everyone is unique in their looks and not everyone even tries to look this way. Some people don't care what others look like because they aren't as shallow as others. It is so incredibly unlikely that someone will look PERFECT, it just doesn't happen and people need to learn to be happy with a more normal look than the extravagant one desired. This modern day has made style escalate at an unbelievable rate since we get bored with our looks in months and then we want to change them. All of us need to learn that no one will look perfect and we need to be content with this.
While i agree with your resolution. I disagree with the problem. I think the problem is that he loves her and she is average. He hates that she is average but does not understand why he still loves her. Not that his mistress isn't the ideal and perfect woman but he loves her any way is the problem. I could be wrong but i doubt it.
ReplyDeleteI believe that I have to be with Stephan on this one. But the problem may lie alittle bit deeper than her just being average. He does lover her very much, but cant seemto figure out which is the perfect woman.
ReplyDeleteI will agree with stephen also. He is pointing out her flaws and saying well you would be berrter if you were like this. He states he still loves her, but also is saying that she isn't as pretty as he wishes she was. I agree with the fact that he loves who she is and he doesn't know why, but that doesn't compensate for the fact that he keeps dissing her throughout the sonnet.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gavin, he loves her and is happy with all of her looks but he is saying that nobody is perfect. Everybody has their flaws.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Gavin and I disagree with Stephen. I think he loves her for who she is. No one is perfect. I think he sees her flaws and loves them because that is what makes her different. I do not think he means that she is average.
ReplyDelete