Describe the Speaker of Sonnet 130
The speaker of Sonnet 130, which was written by William Shakespeare, is a man who is skeptical of the exaggerated and unrealistic claims of beauty often found in traditional love poetry. In the sonnet, the speaker directly addresses his mistress and uses a series of comparisons and contrasts to demonstrate his views on love and beauty.
The speaker initially acknowledges the conventional descriptions of beauty by stating that his mistress is not as beautiful as the sun, coral, snow, or roses. He admits that her eyes are not like the sun, her lips are not as red as coral, her breasts are not white like snow, and her cheeks are not rosy like the color of roses. This contrast between the traditional expectations of beauty and the reality of his mistress's appearance reveals the speaker's disillusionment with idealized beauty.
However, the speaker's tone throughout the sonnet is not critical or negative. Instead, he affectionately highlights his mistress's unique and individual qualities. He recognizes her natural imperfections and contrasts them with the excessive praise found in traditional love poems. He suggests that her eyes are more dull than the sun but are still bright and lively. Her breath is not as sweet as perfumes, but it still has a pleasing scent. Her voice isn't melodious like music, but it has a lovely sound. As the sonnet progresses, the speaker continues to emphasize the reality of his mistress's appearance, admiring her real qualities rather than the idealized ones.
Ultimately, the speaker's intention is to subvert the traditional expectations of beauty and affirm his love for his mistress based on who she truly is, rather than conforming to societal standards. The poem demonstrates the speaker's sincerity and genuine affection for his mistress, indicating that true love goes beyond physical appearance and embraces the imperfections of the beloved.