William Shakespeare – Sonnet 130 | “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” | Summary, Analysis & Themes

William Shakespeare – Sonnet 130

“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”

Sonnet 130 is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and humorous love sonnets. It deliberately mocks the exaggerated comparisons made by other poets of his time, replacing idealization with honest realism. The poet describes his mistress without false praise — her eyes are not like the sun, her lips are not coral-red — yet he concludes that his **love is genuine and deeper** than those built on superficial flattery. It belongs to the Dark Lady sequence (Sonnets 127–152), in which Shakespeare presents love in a realistic, human, and sensual light.

Text of the Sonnet

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

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Line-by-Line Explanation

Lines 1–4: Rejecting Idealized Comparisons

“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun…”
The poet begins by humorously denying the typical poetic comparisons of his time. Her eyes are not as bright as the sun, her lips are not coral-red, her skin is not pure white, and her hair is like black wires — not golden threads. Shakespeare mocks the false imagery of conventional “Petrarchan” sonnets.

Lines 5–8: Realism over Hyperbole

“I have seen roses damask’d, red and white… And in some perfumes is there more delight…”
Her cheeks are not rosy, and her breath is not sweet — a blunt contrast to the idealized descriptions found in romantic verse. Yet beneath the humor lies sincerity: **love does not depend on perfection or flattery**.

Lines 9–12: Earthly, Not Divine

“I love to hear her speak, yet well I know / That music hath a far more pleasing sound.”
Her voice is not musical, and she walks on the ground — not like a floating goddess. But the poet’s affection is **earthly, real, and human**, not based on impossible ideals.

Lines 13–14 (Couplet): True Love Defined

“And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare / As any she belied with false compare.”
Despite rejecting poetic exaggerations, the poet asserts his mistress is **truly unique**. His love is **more authentic** because it is based on truth, not illusion.

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Key Themes

• Realistic Love: True affection is grounded in honesty, not fantasy.
• Anti-Petrarchan Satire: The poem mocks the flowery exaggerations of other sonneteers.
• Truth and Acceptance: Love accepts flaws without idealization.
• Human Beauty: Celebrates imperfection as part of genuine connection.

Poetic Devices

• Parody: The poem imitates and mocks traditional sonnet clichés.
• Imagery: Simple, sensory details (eyes, lips, hair, breath) contrast with ideal beauty.
• Irony: The poet seems critical but ends affirming deep affection.
• Alliteration: “My mistress’ eyes,” “reeks...roses,” “pleasing sound.”
• Contrast: Between poetic convention and lived experience.

Structure and Tone

• Form: Shakespearean Sonnet (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG)
• Meter: Iambic pentameter
• Volta: At line 13 – shift from satire to sincere declaration
• Tone: Witty, playful, affectionate

Interpretation and Critical Insight

• Shakespeare’s realism breaks away from traditional poetic ideals of beauty.
• His mistress’s humanity becomes the source of genuine attraction.
• The final couplet transforms mockery into **tender admiration** — a true poet’s love.
• The sonnet celebrates **authentic emotion over poetic ornamentation**.

Quick Revision Table

Aspect	Details
Poem	Sonnet 130 – “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”
Poet	William Shakespeare
Form	English (Shakespearean) Sonnet
Rhyme Scheme	ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Main Theme	Realistic portrayal of love and beauty
Key Techniques	Satire, Irony, Contrast, Parody
Famous Line	“My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.”
Tone	Playful, Honest, Affectionate
Message	True love values honesty and reality over false comparisons.

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