How each text helps define national identity or solidarity - Essay Example

Sonnet 130 by Shakespeare ridicules the concern of the notion of beauty, which was an agreement of art and literature in general at the time of the Elizabethan Era. A tradition of representation and expression of beauty through art including poetry had been established through the influence of the poetry originating from Rome as well as ancient Greece. This tradition had extended the European customs of courtly love as well as courtly poetry. The way Shakespeare’s work is done shows that it was customary during the period for a person to praise of the object a person was affectionate.

For Shakespeare, he expressed his affection towards his mistress through poem 130. Shakespeare did this with comparison to whatever he could think of as the most beautiful and important in the face of the earth as well as heaven. He compares the eyes of the mistress he loves with the sun, cheeks with roses, and lips with coral. Many poets from the period wrote proclaiming love, for instance, Michael Drayton, Barnabe Barnes as well as Thomas Watson did. In his expression for his love towards his mistress, the writer used flattering phrases and words.

This was to show of how much significance the mistress is to him. For instance, the use black hairs being wires, meaning that the wires grow in the head was used in sonnet 130. This was common in different works for instance Diella, and shows that love was traditionally expressed through artwork by many during the time. Such phrases may not seem to be quite flattery today, however, as at that time they were. The writer of sonnet 130 compares the beauty of her mistress with several natural beauties such as snow and coal, with each contrast ending harshly for his mistress.

However, this is a little different with the ways of other poets. Within the final couplet, the writer declares his love for the mistress through declaring that he does not make