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.
Originally published in 1609 in Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Public domain.
Analysis
“Sonnet 130” is one of William Shakespeare’s most famous and refreshingly unconventional love sonnets. Instead of idealizing his mistress with exaggerated praise, Shakespeare describes her with blunt honesty, reversing the poetic norms of his time. Yet, by the poem’s end, he reveals that genuine love does not depend on illusion — but thrives in truth.
Summary of the Poem
The speaker dismantles the traditional imagery of Petrarchan love poetry. His mistress’s eyes are “nothing like the sun,” her lips less red than coral, her cheeks without the rosy hue of idealized beauty, and her hair compared unflatteringly to black wires. Even her breath lacks perfume, and her voice, though beloved, is less melodious than music.
Despite these unflattering details, the sonnet concludes with an affirmation of rare love: “And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare / As any she belied with false compare.” Shakespeare’s realism becomes an expression of sincerity — love that sees clearly and loves still.
Themes and Interpretation
Realism in Love: The sonnet rejects superficial ideals, presenting a love grounded in human reality rather than poetic fantasy.
Honesty and Devotion: The poet’s refusal to exaggerate is itself a form of reverence. His mistress is imperfect, but his affection is truthful.
Irony and Wit: The humorous tone inverts convention — mocking the false perfection of romantic verse while deepening its emotional authenticity.
Structure and Style
The poem follows the Shakespearean sonnet form: three quatrains and a final rhyming couplet (abab cdcd efef gg). Its steady iambic pentameter gives it a conversational, natural rhythm.
Shakespeare’s use of everyday comparisons — coral, snow, roses, music — grounds the poem in sensory realism. The final couplet acts as a volta (turn), shifting from mockery to admiration. The irony dissolves into tenderness, proving that the poet’s realism is not cynicism but love unclouded by fantasy.
Tone and Voice
The tone is humorous, intimate, and subtly affectionate. The speaker’s playful criticisms draw attention to the gap between conventional beauty and real human connection. His love, rooted in perception rather than illusion, feels more authentic than the grand gestures of idealized verse.
Legacy and Influence
“Sonnet 130” remains one of the most beloved of Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets because it humanizes love. Its mixture of humor and truth anticipates the modern view that love is meaningful not for perfection but for acceptance. Shakespeare’s gentle realism reshaped the way poets approached affection, honesty, and beauty.