William Shakespeare Sonnet 130 Tone

Sonnet 130 Analysis

In the literary piece, Sonnet 130, author William Shakespeare uses descriptive diction, depicting metaphors, careful details, and remarkable imagery to craft a tone that shift from condescending to complementary to convey that comparison only selfishly highlights flaws and that unconditional love is founded upon inner beauty admired from the heart.
Tone

Before establishing the underlying thematic statements of the poem, the speaker established the initial tone of the piece. Through use of detail and metaphor, the speaker crafts a tone that shifts from condescending to complimentary. To illustrate this condescending tone, the author utilizes two examples of detail. In line one, the speaker conveys his emotion, “My mistress’

For example, the speaker continues to utilize detail to establish the foundation of the complementary tone, “And yet...” (line 13). When this is said, there is an immediate shift in the tone of the piece. No longer is there a lingering bitterness within the diction, but a gentle exchange, “my love as rare” (line 14). Here, the transition is made and the reader is left with an optimistic sentiment. He is concluding the overall tone of the literary work by declaring that the love he has for this woman is unmatched and not founded upon physical attraction. This love is founded upon internal

To create a theme of comparison, Shakespeare employs the flaws of his beloved. After establishing that the speaker is a man describing his love (line 1), he uses imagery in the first quatrain, “If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;” (line 3). Alongside this imagery, the speaker continues to convey his love in a negative light for the majority of the poem. By comparing his love to other beautiful qualities negatively, this theme of comparison is clearly displayed. Shakesphere, through the speaker, further portrays a theme of comparison with depicting diction. Throughout the first three quatrains, the speaker uses diction to establish comparison. Word choice such as “wires” (line 4) and “reeks” (line 8). Finding negatively connoted descriptions of the speaker’s love is not difficult within this poem. Through establishing the many flaws of his love, the speaker further paints a picture of harsh comparison. Not only does Shakesphere use metaphors and diction to illustrate the theme, he also conveys comparison through similes. For example, “my mistresses eyes are nothing like the sun” (line 1). This quote is found in the first quatrain to create an initial shock-factor for the reader of the piece. When reading poetry between a man and the woman he loves, typically, positive and romantic word choice is used. However, the speaker goes against