Sonnet 127: In The Old Age Black Was Not Counted Fair
In 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.
Sonnet Line 1:
“In the old age black was not counted fair,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Old age: Past times or earlier eras.
- Counted fair: Considered beautiful.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by reflecting on the past, stating that in earlier times, blackness (often associated with dark hair, eyes, or skin) was not considered beautiful. This line introduces the theme of changing standards of beauty and challenges traditional notions of what is deemed attractive. The speaker’s tone is reflective, setting the stage for a critique of societal norms.
Sonnet Line 2:
“Or if it were, it bore not beauty’s name;”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Bore not beauty’s name: Was not recognized as beauty.
Explanation:
The speaker adds that even if blackness was considered beautiful in the past, it was not officially acknowledged or celebrated as such. This line emphasizes the marginalization of non-traditional beauty standards, highlighting the speaker’s critique of societal biases. The tone is critical, underscoring the unfairness of these standards.
Sonnet Line 3:
“But now is black beauty’s successive heir,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Successive heir: Next in line to inherit.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that blackness has now become the rightful heir to beauty, suggesting a shift in societal standards. This line marks a turning point in the sonnet, as the speaker celebrates the newfound recognition of black beauty. The tone is triumphant, emphasizing the speaker’s approval of this change.
Sonnet Line 4:
“And beauty slandered with a bastard shame:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Slandered: Defamed or discredited.
- Bastard shame: Illegitimate disgrace.
Explanation:
The speaker laments that traditional beauty has been discredited and shamed, as if it were illegitimate. This line suggests that the shift in beauty standards has led to the devaluation of what was once considered beautiful. The tone is critical, highlighting the speaker’s disapproval of how beauty is judged and dismissed.
Sonnet Line 5:
“For since each hand hath put on Nature’s power,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Each hand: Everyone.
- Put on Nature’s power: Attempted to imitate or control nature.
Explanation:
The speaker observes that people have taken it upon themselves to manipulate or alter nature, particularly in the pursuit of beauty. This line introduces the idea of artificiality, as individuals use cosmetics or other means to enhance their appearance. The tone is critical, emphasizing the speaker’s disdain for such practices.
Sonnet Line 6:
“Fairing the foul with Art’s false borrowed face,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Fairing the foul: Making the unattractive appear beautiful.
- Art’s false borrowed face: Artificial beauty created through cosmetics.
Explanation:
The speaker criticizes the use of artificial means to make unattractive things appear beautiful. This line underscores the speaker’s disdain for the superficiality and deception associated with such practices. The tone is scornful, emphasizing the speaker’s preference for natural beauty.
Sonnet Line 7:
“Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sweet beauty: Genuine or natural beauty.
- Holy bower: Sacred place or sanctuary.
Explanation:
The speaker laments that true, natural beauty has lost its value and sanctity in a world dominated by artificiality. This line suggests that genuine beauty is no longer celebrated or protected, as it once was. The tone is mournful, emphasizing the speaker’s sadness over this loss.
Sonnet Line 8:
“But is profaned, if not lives in disgrace.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Profaned: Desecrated or disrespected.
- Disgrace: Shame or dishonor.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that natural beauty is either disrespected or forced to exist in shame, overshadowed by artificial standards. This line reinforces the speaker’s critique of societal norms and their impact on genuine beauty. The tone is critical, underscoring the speaker’s frustration with these changes.
Sonnet Line 9:
“Therefore my mistress’ eyes are raven black,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mistress: Beloved or lover.
- Raven black: Deep black, like a raven’s feathers.
Explanation:
The speaker introduces their beloved, whose eyes are described as “raven black.” This line marks a shift in focus, as the speaker begins to celebrate the unique beauty of their mistress. The tone is admiring, emphasizing the speaker’s affection and appreciation for their beloved’s distinctive features.
Sonnet Line 10:
“Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Suited: Fitting or appropriate.
- Mourners: Those who grieve or lament.
Explanation:
The speaker describes their beloved’s eyes as fittingly black, comparing them to mourners. This line suggests that the beloved’s eyes reflect a sense of sorrow or gravity, adding depth to their beauty. The tone is contemplative, emphasizing the complexity of the beloved’s appearance.
Sonnet Line 11:
“At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Not born fair: Not naturally beautiful by traditional standards.
- No beauty lack: Are not lacking in beauty.
Explanation:
The speaker suggests that the beloved’s eyes mourn for those who, though not traditionally beautiful, possess their own unique beauty. This line challenges conventional standards of beauty, celebrating diversity and individuality. The tone is empathetic, emphasizing the speaker’s inclusive view of beauty.
Sonnet Line 12:
“Sland’ring creation with a false esteem:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Sland’ring creation: Defaming or misrepresenting nature.
- False esteem: Misguided judgment or valuation.
Explanation:
The speaker criticizes the way society misrepresents and devalues natural beauty through misguided judgments. This line reinforces the speaker’s critique of artificial standards and their impact on how beauty is perceived. The tone is critical, underscoring the speaker’s frustration with societal biases.
Sonnet Line 13:
“Yet so they mourn becoming of their woe,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mourn: Grieve or lament.
- Becoming of their woe: Fitting for their sorrow.
Explanation:
The speaker observes that the beloved’s eyes mourn in a way that is fitting and appropriate, adding to their beauty. This line suggests that the beloved’s sorrow enhances their attractiveness, making them even more compelling. The tone is admiring, emphasizing the speaker’s appreciation for the beloved’s depth and complexity.
Sonnet Line 14:
“That every tongue says beauty should look so.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Every tongue: Everyone.
- Beauty should look so: Beauty should resemble this.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that the beloved’s unique beauty is so compelling that it challenges and redefines societal standards, leading others to recognize that beauty should look like this. This line celebrates the beloved’s ability to transform perceptions of beauty, emphasizing their exceptional nature. The tone is triumphant, underscoring the speaker’s admiration and pride.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 127
Summary
Sonnet 127 marks the beginning of Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady” sequence (Sonnets 127–152), shifting away from the Fair Youth to a mysterious woman who defies conventional beauty standards. In this sonnet, the speaker challenges traditional ideals of beauty, particularly the notion that fairness (light skin, blond hair) is the standard of attractiveness.
The opening lines assert that in the past (“the old age”), black was not considered beautiful, or if it was, it was not acknowledged as such. However, times have changed, and now “black beauty” has become the rightful heir to beauty’s throne. Despite this shift, traditional beauty has been tainted and “slandered with a bastard shame,” meaning that artificial enhancements have corrupted its original purity.
The speaker criticizes the use of artificial means (“Art’s false borrowed face”) to make people appear beautiful. This likely refers to the use of cosmetics, wigs, and other alterations that create a false standard of beauty. As a result, true beauty has been displaced, no longer having a “holy bower” (a sacred space) and instead being profaned and living in disgrace.
The volta (shift in focus) occurs at line 9, where the speaker introduces his mistress, whose eyes are “raven black.” Her dark eyes symbolize an unconventional beauty that stands in contrast to the artificial fairness that society deems attractive. Her black eyes appear as mourners, grieving for those who, though not naturally fair, still manage to be considered beautiful due to artificial enhancement. The final couplet suggests a paradox—though her eyes “mourn,” they do so in such a striking way that others come to recognize them as the new standard of beauty.
Critical Analysis
Sonnet 127 serves as Shakespeare’s critique of artificial beauty standards while simultaneously celebrating a new, unconventional ideal of beauty. The poem opens with an acknowledgment that past generations did not value black features, reinforcing the Elizabethan ideal that fairness (light hair, pale skin) was the epitome of attractiveness. However, the speaker suggests that this ideal has been overthrown, and “black beauty” is now the rightful heir.
A key tension in the poem is between natural beauty and artificially enhanced beauty. The phrase “each hand hath put on Nature’s power” suggests that people have taken control over their own appearance, altering their looks through artifice (likely cosmetics, powders, and wigs). This results in “fairing the foul,” meaning that what was once considered unattractive is now disguised to appear beautiful. This suggests that society has lost a true sense of what beauty is, leading to “false esteem” and “bastard shame”—a perversion of natural beauty.
The second quatrain emphasizes the consequences of this shift. Because of the widespread use of artificial enhancement, beauty has “no name”—it is no longer clearly defined—and it has lost its “holy bower,” meaning it no longer holds a place of sacred admiration. The implication is that genuine beauty, untarnished by deception, has been displaced.
When the speaker describes his mistress, he presents her as an emblem of true beauty. Her “raven black” eyes directly contrast the fair ideals of the past. They appear to mourn the loss of natural beauty and grieve for those who have falsely attained attractiveness. Yet, in a final ironic twist, their mourning is so profound that they become the new standard of beauty—suggesting that the Dark Lady represents a radical yet authentic shift in aesthetic ideals.
Unlike the Fair Youth sonnets, where beauty is often linked to time, immortality, and legacy, Sonnet 127 is concerned with truth versus deception in beauty. The poem also reflects Shakespeare’s willingness to subvert Elizabethan norms, celebrating an unconventional beauty that is dark, natural, and sincere.
Theme Analysis
- The Redefinition of Beauty
- The sonnet argues that black beauty, once disregarded, is now the true standard of attractiveness. This challenges conventional Elizabethan ideals that associated beauty with fairness.
- Natural vs. Artificial Beauty
- The poem critiques the widespread use of cosmetics and artificial enhancements that “fair the foul” and deceive society into false admiration.
- The Corruption of Beauty
- Shakespeare suggests that beauty has been tainted, losing its purity and sacredness due to excessive artifice.
- Mourning for Lost Authenticity
- The speaker’s mistress, with her raven-black eyes, symbolizes a lamentation for true beauty that has been overshadowed by artificial standards.
- Paradox of Mourning and Admiration
- While the mistress’ dark eyes mourn the state of beauty, their striking appearance ironically leads others to admire them, thus making them a new beauty ideal.
Literary Devices
- Contrast & Juxtaposition
- “Black was not counted fair” vs. “black beauty’s successive heir” → The shift from old standards to new ones.
- “Fairing the foul” → The artificial transformation of ugliness into beauty.
- Personification
- “Beauty slandered with a bastard shame” → Beauty is treated as a person who has been wrongfully accused or dishonored.
- “Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower” → Beauty has been robbed of its sacred identity.
- Metaphor
- “Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem” → Her black eyes are compared to mourners, lamenting the corruption of beauty.
- “Art’s false borrowed face” → Cosmetics and artificial enhancements are metaphorically described as a deceptive mask.
- Irony
- “Yet so they mourn becoming of their woe, / That every tongue says beauty should look so” → Although the mistress’ eyes mourn, their beauty is so striking that they set a new standard.
- Alliteration
- “Sweet beauty hath no name, no holy bower” → The repetition of “b” sounds enhances the musicality of the line.
- Symbolism
- “Raven black” → The dark color symbolizes unconventional beauty, defiance of societal norms, and mourning.
- “Mourners” → Symbolizes lamentation for lost authenticity in beauty.
Conclusion
Sonnet 127 serves as Shakespeare’s declaration that beauty is no longer confined to the traditional standards of fairness. The poem critiques artificial enhancements that deceive society and corrupt the true nature of beauty. The speaker’s mistress, with her black eyes, represents a radical new ideal—one that acknowledges the loss of authenticity while simultaneously becoming the new standard. The irony in the final couplet reinforces this idea: even in mourning, her beauty is undeniable.
By beginning the “Dark Lady” sequence with this sonnet, Shakespeare signals a major thematic shift from the idolized Fair Youth to a more complex and unconventional subject. The poem subverts Elizabethan beauty norms, challenging perceptions of attractiveness and setting the stage for the passionate, conflicted, and often troubling relationship explored in the sonnets that follow.
