Shakespeare has been called the greatest writer of all time. His canon of work is vast and varied, including plays, sonnets, and poems. Sonnet 130 is one of his most famous poems. It is also one of the few sonnets that is addressed to a woman. The poem is often referred to as Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady” sonnet because it talks about an average-looking woman who is not as beautiful as other women.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 has been interpreted many ways by critics over the centuries. Some scholars have said that it celebrates true love in all its imperfections, while others have argued that it mocks idealized love poetry from the time period.
The poem is addressed to Shakespeare’s mistress, who is average in looks. He acknowledges that she is not as beautiful as other women, but still declares his love for her.
Shakespeare used humor and irony in this poem to make it clear that he does not believe in idealized love. Instead, he believes that true love exists only when both partners have flaws and weaknesses — just like everyone else does!
In particular, it parodies those poems that compare their subject with some idealized object or person (usually beautiful) or nature (usually peaceful). In this poem, however, none of these comparisons are flattering.
