Sonnet 130 - CCEA Subject matter

This is one of 154 sonnets published by William Shakespeare In 1609. They explore the themes of love, sex and beauty.

Part of English LiteratureAnthology Two: Relationships

Subject matter

Sonnet 130 makes fun of the love poetry of the time.

The speaker is describing his "mistress". This could mean his wife, his lover or simply a woman he admired.

Instead of over the top praise, he seems to be describing her as being not very attractive. He points out that he is just being realistic, but he ends by saying she is just as pretty as any woman who is "belied" (lied about) with false comparisons.