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The Theme Of Love In Shakespeare's Sonnet 141

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William Shakespeare’s "Sonnet 141" like many other sonnets is based on the theme of love. But in the sonnet 141, which will be analyzed in this paper, love is pictured as an inner conflict between mind and heart. In this sonnet, the speaker declares the discrepancy of the heart and mind, feelings and thoughts. The author emphasizes the conflict with the help of the negative images. In the first quatrain, he contrasts the real vision of his beloved, which does not correspond to the standard canons of beauty with the feeling of his heart that loves and accepts her. The images of five senses in the second quatrain and slave-mistress in the third quatrain, emphasizes painful struggle between heart and mind. Alongside the analysis of the sonnet, …show more content…

2 Analysis
From the start of the first quatrain, the speaker declares his beloved one unappealing “In faith, I do not love thee with mine eyes/ For they in thee a thousand errors note” (1-2). He states that he truly does not love his mistress only with eyes, his love is not based on appearance. He explains that his love is not blind, all the blemishes, faults, physical imperfections or even wrong and arrogant behavior of the beloved one are clearly seen. The speaker does not praise the allure and grace of his beloved one as it usually happens in sonnets. The word “error” (2) is the first negative image, which meaning according to the dictionary is “the amount of deviation from a standard or specification, a deficiency or imperfection in structure or function”. The speaker obviously sees that his beloved one physical appearance is not even beautiful or attractive; it is even revolting and appalling. The next two lines in the first quatrain continue the idea that the speaker is confused by his senses. “But 'tis my heart that loves what they despise / Who in despite of view is pleased to dote” (3-4). The word “despise” Cambridge Dictionary describes as “to feel a strong dislike for someone or something because you think

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