"My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun" (Shakespeare 1). The first line in Shakespeare's "Sonnet 130" illustrates the mistress of the speaker has eyes that are nothing like the sun. This example of a metaphor introduces the play's main theme, tone, and figurative language. Throughout this sonnet, Shakespeare compares his mistress to items or objects that are far more beautiful than her. While this seems rash, it all shows that his mistress is far more unique than all of the women depicted in other sonnets. Through the use of poetic devices such as literary devices, tone, and imagery, Shakespeare furthers the purpose of the sonnet by saying his wife is beautiful to him because she is unique. Firstly, the use of literary devices in "Sonnet 130" contributes to the main theme thanks to comparisons made throughout of his wife. Shakespeare uses metaphors and similes to compare his wife to things far more beautiful …show more content…
Some words that help to create the tone of satire and irony are "dun, black wires, damasked, delight, reeks, pleasing, treads" (Shakespeare 3-12). These words used by Shakespeare help establish the tone in the first three quatrains, in these quatrains Shakespeare is being satirical because he is implicating his wife's ugly nature and mediocre appearance. This makes the reader Shakespeare does not love his wife and wishes she was appealing; however, in the couplet, the turning point is established and turns the tone to sweet and loving. Words from the couplet that help establish the tone are "heaven, love, rare, belied, false compare" (Shakespeare 13-14). These words help change the tone and show how the speaker feels about his mistress. He loves her because she is different from all the other women described in sonnets since they are make-believe and not real