The Author’s Tone in Sonnet 130

Answer

The tone of Shakespeare’s (1564-1616) “Sonnet 130” (1609) is satirical, humorous, and realistic. The poem mocks the exaggerated praise found in traditional love poetry. Instead of glorifying his mistress, the poet presents her as an ordinary woman. However, the tone shifts in the final lines to show genuine affection.

Mocking and Playful Tone: In the first twelve lines, the poet humorously rejects traditional poetic comparisons. He states that his mistress’ eyes are not bright like the sun and that her lips are not as red as coral. This playful tone exposes the false beauty standards used by other poets.

Honest and Realistic Tone: The poem is also deeply honest despite the mocking tone. The poet does not insult his mistress. However, he presents a truthful image of her. He does not compare her to a goddess because he has never seen one. This realism makes the poem different from traditional love poetry.

Loving and Appreciative Tone: The tone changes in the final two lines. The poet declares that his love is real and deep. The speaker claims his lover’s uniqueness surpasses cliche comparisons. He rejects the typical flowery language used in love poems. This departure from convention highlights his genuine affection. The change in his voice signals true admiration.

From the light of the above discussion, the poem begins with a satirical and playful tone but ends with sincerity. Shakespeare mocks unrealistic beauty standards while expressing true love. The final message is that love is not about perfection but about genuine feelings.