Pre-1914 Poetry William Shakespeare (1562-1616) Sonnet 29, and Sonnet 130 Essay Example

mistress. He goes on to describe his beloved ("If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head"), implying that she is not an attractive woman. Later on, he talks about her breath ("Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks"), indirectly suggesting that she is unclean.

As the sestet nears its end, the poet once again depicts his mistress ("My mistress when she walks treads on the ground.") to emphasize that despite her ordinary appearance, she is a human being. The sonnet concludes with irony as the writer describes his emotions ("And yet, by heaven, I think my love is rare.") asserting that although his mistress may not be visually appealing to others, she is to him. Shakespeare concludes the poem with the statement "as any belied with false compare."

The poet expresses that his mistress is incomparable, highlighting a stark contrast between Sonnet 29 and Sonnet 130. While Sonnet 29 conveys the poet's conventional admiration for his significant other, utilizing exaggerated flattery and depicting the positive impact of her approval on him.

Despite the contrast between Sonnet 29 and Sonnet 130, both aim to celebrate the poets' mistresses. While Sonnet 29 conforms to the societal norms of the 16th century, Sonnet 130 subverts it by rejecting the conventional idea of physical beauty and portraying love through emotions. Thus, Sonnet 130 serves as a rebuttal to Sonnet 29.

Despite the prevalence of love poetry during that era, Sonnet 130 serves to challenge and contradict common preconceptions. The majority of love poems from that time were written with the intention of flattering men's mistresses.