Kaylee Davis
Professor Mary Dixon
WRIT201: Introduction to Creative Writing
07 October 2023
Analysis of Reading Poetry Assignment
“My Mistress’ Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun,” by William Shakespeare is a sonnet
(Shakespeare). In this poem, the narrator compares his mistress to common metaphors that were
used in poetry at the time to describe beauty. Contrary to common love poems, instead of using
these metaphors to compliment the individual being compared to them, Shakespeare uses them to
point out the mistresses’ lack of these ideal beauties. The theme of this poem is that an individual
does not have to reach these absurd standards of beauty to be beautiful, and love does not have to
be excessive in order to be real. Shakespeare develops this theme by using figurative language,
irony, and humor.
Throughout the poem, Shakespeare uses comparison and irony to point out the
contradictions between ideal beauties and his mistress. For instance, line one reads, “My
mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun,” (Shakespeare, line 1). Typically, in love poems, one
would exaggerate by stating that their object of affection has eyes as bright as the sun; however,
by Shakespeare stating that his mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun, he is pointing out that this
standard of beauty is absurd.
These contradictions between the overused metaphors and his mistress are humorous,
which in turn emphasizes the absurdity of the ideals and the overall theme of beauty not having
to reach these standards. An example of humor in this poem can be found in lines seven and
eight, which read “And in some perfumes is there more delight than in the breath that from my
mistress reeks,” (Shakespeare, lines 7-8). In this line, he is stating that not only does his mistress’
breath not smell better than perfume, but it stinks. This is ironic and humorous because it is the
opposite of an exaggerated compliment one might give when describing their love interest. A
reader might even think that he does not find his mistress beautiful if it weren’t for the last two
lines which read, “And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare, as any she belied with false
compare,” (Shakespeare, lines 13-14). This simile conveys the idea that even without all the false
comparisons and ideals, his mistress is beautiful, and his love is real.
Shakespeare’s usage of comparisons and figurative language help develop a deep and
meaningful theme in only fourteen lines. This is because figurative language can convey
complex thoughts in few words. His use of humor emphasizes the absurdity that he is trying to
point out. The final simile drives home the theme of what beauty and true love actually is. I can
use figurative language and humor in my own writing to convey big ideas while keeping to the
low word count and rules of the form of poetry I choose. Doing this will help me develop the
theme and make the overall poem more meaningful.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William “My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing like the Sun (Sonnet 130).” From
Poets.Org, Academy of American Poets, 19 July 2019, poets.org/poem/my-mistress-eyes-
are-nothing-sun-sonnet-130.
