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In today's society it is very unfortunate that the appearance of women is so significant. Relationships strictly based on looks will most likely always exist, however, the hope that one is loved for who they are inside remains within most of us. Every individual finds being praised exceptionally flattering, whether it is for his or her appearance or for his or her personality. With a comical touch the poet ridicules the tradition of comparing one's beloved to all things beautiful under the sun, and to things divine and immortal as well. In Sonnet 10, William Shakespeare proves that love is far more precious than beauty. Although he does at no point praise his lover's appearance, he preserves her dignity and emphasizes the importance of a woman's personality, rather than physical appearance.

This sonnet plays an elaborate joke on the values of love, which are common amongst most other poems, and that are still funny to society today. Shakespeare uses metaphors throughout his three quatrains, and in his final couplet to make highly idealizing comparisons between nature and the poets' lover that were, if taken literally, completely bizarre. In the first quatrain, the speaker spends one line on each comparison between his mistress and something else; the sun, coral, snow, and wires--the one positive thing in the whole poem some part of his mistress is like

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips' red;

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If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. (Shakespeare 1-4)

In the first and second lines, it seem as though the speaker is trying to ridicule someone. He is taking these metaphors at face value, and somewhat puzzled, decides to tell the truth. For example, Your mistress' eyes are like the sun? Shakespeare seems to be proving to this person, that his mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun. The fourth line portrays his wittiness. Logically, since snow is white, one should accept that her breasts would then be somewhat darker. Whether this is trying to tell the readers that his mistress was truly dark seems doubtful, because most likely the poet is experimenting with our imaginations, to view the thoughts of his writing style. And finally the last line, which portrays her hairs as black wires, perhaps may imply that her hair was actually tangled and unkempt. The association of black may just be referring to her natural hair colour. Shakespeare is demonstrating that, by comparing his mistress to such images, he is leading the reader to believe that he does not in fact, love this woman.

Throughout the second and third quatrains, Shakespeare expands the descriptions to occupy two lines each, so that roses/cheeks, perfumes/breath, music/voice, and goddess/mistress each receive a pair of unrhymed lines. This creates the effect of an expanding argument, and conveniently prevents the poem from becoming dry. Shakespeare depicts all the qualities that his mistress is lacking, rather than what makes her physically attractive

I have seen roses damasked, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks

And in some perfumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. (Shakespeare 5-8)

In lines seven and eight Shakespeare staggers the readers with his choice of words. Perhaps in Shakespeare's time, the smell of the breath of a lover was meant to be sweeter than all perfumes, but in this case he is verifying that indeed it is not true. Also, the use of the word "reeks" in his day was probably not quite as harsh, especially to the concept of beauty, as it is today. There seems to be little doubt that Shakespeare could have used a more flattering word if he wished to imply that his mistress was an example of possible pleasure. As for lines nine and ten, curiously, these two lines almost express the opposite of their exact meaning. One is tempted to read 'I love to hear her speak, for the sound is far more pleasing than music to my ear.' In fact, that is a stronger meaning than the more obvious one, because the claim that he loves to hear her overcomes the problem of his previous fact that music might be better. However it is charming that he still would prefer to listen to her voice. The last two lines of the third quatrain simply mean that his beloved is human and has earthly feet. The poet is stating that great comparisons are not significant, for his lover is beautiful without being a goddess. She is delightful in his eyes, and in many other ways.

Seeing as how Shakespeare did not present this woman with any realistic compliments throughout the poem, the conclusion is quite a surprise "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare/ As any she belied with false compare" (Shakespeare 1-14). As a reader, it is surprising that the speaker is in reality, in love with this woman. Sonnet 10 confirms that despite the fact that the speaker's mistress lacks the beautiful qualities that most individuals look for, he beyond doubt loves her. The meaning behind line thirteen is that he is telling his readers that his love for this woman is precious. The word "rare" means that she is something extraordinary to him. Therefore, in Shakespeare's last line, he is revealing that he did not 'falsely portray' the women, he was trying to tell the readers all along that he did in fact love her, but not for the obvious reason of her appearance and her characteristics. The "false compare" means that by making these deceptive comparisons, he made his readers believe that he did not find this woman irresistible. Also, the narrator verified that his affection for his lover is not strictly based on lust. He seems to be looking at the beauty inside this woman, rather than her physical appearance, which not many people look at.

The conclusion of Sonnet 10 is unpredicted due to the various lines of insults brought upon the mistress by the poet throughout the entire poem. He humiliates his mistress and then shocks the reader with his final couplet, announcing that he is without a doubt in love with this woman. It is at this point that he is able to preserve her dignity, demonstrating that it is the woman's personality that he sincerely loves, and not just her appearance. In the couplet, then, the speaker shows his full intention, which is that love does not have to be about beauty, in order to be real. Women do not need to look like flowers or the sun, in order to be attractive. Although Shakespeare's Sonnet 10 does not compliment his mistress until the final couplet and has many readers fooled, he has caught the attention of the readers by focusing on the realization that this woman is definitely worth meeting. He also shows the significance of getting to know an individual when you first meet them. When you fall in love with someone, after a long period of time you tend to disregard all of the imperfect characteristics. Throughout this poem, Shakespeare makes it easier to set eyes on true love, which comes from within.

Works Cited

Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 10." The Norton Anthology of Poetry. Ed. Ferguson, M., Salter, M.J. & Stallworthy, J. New York W.W Norton & Company, 16. 40.

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