Sonnet 127: in the Old Age Black Was Not Counted Fair
Sonnet 127: in the Old Age Black Was Not Counted Fair - form Summary
A Volta Reclaims Black Beauty
This is a Shakespearean sonnet that uses its conventional structure—three quatrains and a concluding couplet—to make a rhetorical turn at line nine. The first eight lines complain that artificial cosmetics have reversed standards, corrupting true beauty; the volta shifts to praise the speaker’s mistress, whose “raven black” eyes, though unfashionable, embody a dignified, mournful beauty that ultimately redefines what others call beautiful.
Read Complete AnalysesIn the old age black was not counted fair, Or if it were, it bore not beauty’s name; But now is black beauty’s successive heir, And beauty slandered with a bastard shame: For since each hand hath put on Nature’s power, Fairing the foul with Art’s false borrowed face, Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower, But is profaned, if not lives in disgrace. Therefore my mistress’ eyes are raven black, Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack, Sland’ring creation with a false esteem: Yet so they mourn becoming of their woe, That every tongue says beauty should look so.
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