My Mistress Eyes Are Nothing Like The Sun By William Shakespeare

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The poem “My Mistress’ Eyes are Nothing like the Sun” by William Shakespeare is about the love towards an imperfect woman. He explains that although his mistress is imperfect, he finds his love special and rare. To clear things up mistress in this poem holds a completely different meaning than that of the modern-day term we are used to. The word mistress now refers to a woman having a sexual relationship outside of marriage, especially with a married man however, in Shakespeare's time, it meant a woman who rules others or has control. The reader can focus on some important aspects of this poem such as imagery, and tone to better understand the poem.
He explains throughout the poem that the lady's beauty cannot be compared to the beauty found in nature. He uses concrete imagery to compare her to various things found in nature, however she does not come close in comparison. “I have seen roses damask’d, red and white,/ But no such roses see I in her cheeks”(501). He has seen roses redder than her cheeks, there is no color in her cheeks. He also uses abstract imagery to express his lover. “in some perfumes is there more delight/Than in the breath that from my mistress …show more content…

It seems as though he mocks her. For example, he says "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun”(501) . Her hair is compared to a wire. "If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head”(501). He makes the poem sound like he doesn’t love her or that she isn’t good enough but he goes further to prove his love. He appreciates her human beauties. Her imperfections make her who she is and he has found love in that. “And yet, by heaven I think my love as rare/ As any she belied with false compare.(501)” He thinks his love is rare and special and she does not need to be misrepresented by ridiculous comparisons. He describes that even though she isn’t perfect he loves her and in his eyes she is beautiful to

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