Charlotte Bernard English 115: Ms.

Taylor March 30, 2009 It was common practice of courting men to honor the object of their affection by presenting them with a poem. Young women were pleased to be idealized. In the world of literature, they would be remembered as perfect. Men dedicate innumerable volumes to this fanciful notion of the perfect woman all in the name of love. The theme of Shakespeares sonnet 18 and 130 is a true and deep love that contrasts the infatuation of those courting men. He uses both sonnets to build upon the other. In Shakespeares sonnet 130 he strays away from insubstantial flattery and falsehoods by giving truth. That music hath a far more pleasing sound is truthful but it is not pretty (787). In his sonnet 18 he continues to stray from the well worn path by being realistic. He takes a compliment, summers day, and then goes into what it means to be compared to a summers day (786). Shakespeare knows love does not erase ones faults and make everything perfect. The need to be remembered as perfect is an immature wish. The young believe that love is perfect when you are with your perfect mate everything else will be perfect. Shakespeares love is not that of an adolescent. He shows that his love for the object of his affection is realistic in this he shows that his love is truer, more mature. After revealing the shallowness of the other men, he gives his love the greatest gift, true immortality.

In sonnet 130, Shakespeare notices that the object of his affection is different, more in some ways, less in others, to the idea woman. Her hair and skin are both dark and her eyes are nothing like the sun (787). Her lips are less red than coral, her cheeks are not rosy, there is not toothpaste so her breath is not the fresher in comparison to all perfumes (787). Her voice is not a sweeter sound than all music and she does not glide when she walks as if she floated just above the ground (787). By

comparing his lover to the ideal: coral lips, fair headed, bright eyes and snowy skin, his love may have been flattered to have a poem written and dedicated to her but offended (787). In a way she would have been immortalized as Shakespeares love, but this pale beauty is the complete opposite of the reality of his dark love. Shakespeare shows a different type of love; less fantasy more reality. It may have confused others as to why a man would describe his mistress so unfavorably , but Shakespeare is much older than most courting men (787). He is not nave to view his love with eyes clouded by infatuation. He is an older mature man and his truthful description reflects back on his love. His love is that of a man who sees things as they really are. It makes his love for his beloved more rational and mature than others. Should I compare *you+ to a summers day in sonnet 18 Shakespeare thinks about the full ramifications of this compliment (786). Should he liken his mistress to something that is fleeting and past its spring of life, past its prime but not yet winter (787)? A summers day is temperamental, being described as such is not flattering. Should I compare *you+ to a summers day? Shakespeare says no and then he gives multiple reasons why he will not. Summer is too short, can be too hot, too rough its winds and eventually the sun light will fade (786). This is the truth of what frivolous drivel courting man write about on the surface. It is nice but it lacks depth. This reality reflects back on their love and dedication. Shakespeare says his love is different; I shall not set you on a pedal stool above reality. In years to come, no one will be able to differentiate who the models were for these poems because they are generic, but Shakespeares love is forever set apart. His gift to her is immortality, in a way no cosmetics, excises, or healthy eating can (786). This poem it is different because the truth will not fade as long as men have the ability to read (786).