Central paradox in William Shakespeare's Sonnet 130

Introduction

William Shakespeare's Sonnet 130, “My Mistress' Eyes are Nothing Like the Sun,” which is written in typical Shakespearian form, is considered as one of the “center of gravity” of Shakespeare's dark lady sonnets. Written in reference to a love with no name, the poet compares the different attributes to her lover "to things that look like her. He defines his love and gives the reader a glimpse of why love is rare. Sonnet 130 uses the image as a contradiction, rather than a description, the mistress of the speaker and initially set a tone of ...