Shakespeare's Sonnet 130:

Parody or Misogynistic Rant?

The most popular critical interpretation of number 130 of Shakespeare’s sonnets is as a mockery of the traditional Petrarchan sonnet. In writing this sonnet Shakespeare claims his independence from the standard vocabulary of praise. This interpretation leaves the implications of his mockery to be largely overlooked. The dark lady, as she is popularly referred to, is broken down into body parts as a misogynistic attempt to objectify and claim her as a possession.

Lines 1 through 6 divides the dark lady into an object comprised of eyes, lips, breasts, a head, and cheeks. In separating his mistress into parts, he deconstructs her ability to be seen as a person and an individual at that. As the sonnet progresses the lady is deconstructed from her head downward. It is as if the speaker is taking a systematic inventory of the dark lady. In fact the speaker compares her, although in a parodical way, to objects such as the sun, coral, snow, wires, roses, perfumes, and music (Lines 1-10). His mistress is comprised of elements that have nothing to do with one another, making the subject appear disjointed and her parts unrelated to anything specific. With the exception of the wires that represent the lady’s hair, all of the objects are impermanent or intangible insomuch that they are not accessible to all of the five senses thus suggesting that it is without sense to let the heart rule. Love for a woman is an undesirable trait and shows the speaker’s lack of concern for the dark lady as a person.

Furthermore, the lady is only referred to or spoken to in a generic manner. “My mistress” and “my love” are generic terms that strip the subject of her individuality while at the same show her as being in possession of the speaker (Lines 1, 8, 13). “My” denotes the speaker’s possession of the dark lady. At the same time the words “mistress” and “love” betray no specificity as to whom he is speaking of.

The reference to love often refers to a sexual relationship. The speaker in sonnet 130 loves to “hear her speak” in that he has sexual relations with the dark lady and revels in her outcries of passion (line 9). The dark lady has no voice outside of sexual relations. Furthermore her voice does not have the ability to form words; she is relegated to the involuntary sounds of intercourse. The only sound the speaker wants to hear from her is the sound of passion which is made at his insistence. Once again, the speaker asserts his control in the possession and objectification of the dark lady.

The ridiculous comparisons that the speaker makes of his lady belie the comedic aspect. In poking fun of her appearance, the speaker not only ridicules her, but also portrays her in such a way that she cannot be taken seriously.

It is apparent through the use of such language that Shakespeare’s sonnet 130 is a misogynistic attempt to objectify and take in possession of a woman. Although the sonnet is arguably a parody of the traditional Petrarchan sonnet, the subject matter outweighs the form.

--Dawn Johnson