Sonnet 132: Thine Eyes I Love, And They, As Pitying Me
Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me,
Knowing thy heart torments me with disdain,
Have put on black and loving mourners be,
Looking with pretty ruth upon my pain.
And truly not the morning sun of heaven
Better becomes the grey cheeks of the east,
Nor that full star that ushers in the even,
Doth half that glory to the sober west,
As those two mourning eyes become thy face:
O! let it then as well beseem thy heart
To mourn for me since mourning doth thee grace,
And suit thy pity like in every part.
Then will I swear beauty herself is black,
And all they foul that thy complexion lack.
Sonnet Line 1:
“Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thine eyes: Your eyes.
- Pitying me: Showing compassion for me.
Explanation:
The speaker begins by expressing their love for the beloved’s eyes, which seem to show compassion for the speaker’s suffering. This line introduces the theme of the beloved’s eyes as a source of comfort and empathy, despite the beloved’s overall disdain. The tone is affectionate, setting the stage for a plea for the beloved’s pity.
Sonnet Line 2:
“Knowing thy heart torments me with disdain,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Thy heart: Your heart or feelings.
- Torments me: Causes me pain.
- Disdain: Contempt or scorn.
Explanation:
The speaker acknowledges that the beloved’s heart causes them pain through its disdain, contrasting with the compassion shown by the beloved’s eyes. This line highlights the tension between the beloved’s actions and their appearance, emphasizing the speaker’s emotional conflict. The tone is pained, underscoring the speaker’s suffering.
Sonnet Line 3:
“Have put on black and loving mourners be,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Put on black: Worn black clothing, symbolizing mourning.
- Loving mourners: Compassionate mourners.
Explanation:
The speaker describes the beloved’s eyes as wearing black, like mourners, suggesting that they reflect the speaker’s pain and sorrow. This line emphasizes the idea of the eyes as empathetic and compassionate, offering solace to the speaker. The tone is tender, highlighting the speaker’s appreciation for this small comfort.
Sonnet Line 4:
“Looking with pretty ruth upon my pain.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Pretty ruth: Gentle pity or compassion.
- Upon my pain: At my suffering.
Explanation:
The speaker elaborates that the beloved’s eyes look upon their pain with gentle pity, reinforcing the idea of the eyes as a source of comfort. This line underscores the speaker’s gratitude for this small sign of compassion. The tone is heartfelt, emphasizing the speaker’s emotional vulnerability.
Sonnet Line 5:
“And truly not the morning sun of heaven”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Morning sun of heaven: The sunrise.
Explanation:
The speaker begins a comparison, stating that not even the morning sun can rival the beauty of the beloved’s eyes. This line introduces a series of natural comparisons, emphasizing the beloved’s exceptional beauty. The tone is admiring, highlighting the speaker’s deep affection.
Sonnet Line 6:
“Better becomes the grey cheeks of the east,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Better becomes: More beautifully adorns.
- Grey cheeks of the east: The dawn sky.
Explanation:
The speaker continues the comparison, stating that the sunrise does not adorn the dawn sky as beautifully as the beloved’s eyes adorn their face. This line reinforces the idea of the beloved’s eyes as uniquely beautiful. The tone is reverent, underscoring the speaker’s admiration.
Sonnet Line 7:
“Nor that full star that ushers in the even,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Full star: The evening star (Venus).
- Ushers in the even: Announces the evening.
Explanation:
The speaker adds that the evening star, which heralds the night, cannot rival the beauty of the beloved’s eyes. This line continues the series of natural comparisons, emphasizing the beloved’s exceptional beauty. The tone is admiring, highlighting the speaker’s deep affection.
Sonnet Line 8:
“Doth half that glory to the sober west,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Doth half that glory: Provides half that beauty.
- Sober west: The western sky at dusk.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes the comparison, stating that the evening star does not bring half the beauty to the western sky as the beloved’s eyes bring to their face. This line reinforces the idea of the beloved’s eyes as uniquely beautiful. The tone is reverent, underscoring the speaker’s admiration.
Sonnet Line 9:
“As those two mourning eyes become thy face:”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mourning eyes: Eyes that express sorrow.
- Become thy face: Suit or adorn your face.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that the beloved’s mourning eyes beautifully adorn their face, surpassing even the beauty of natural phenomena. This line emphasizes the speaker’s deep appreciation for the beloved’s eyes. The tone is affectionate, highlighting the speaker’s emotional connection.
Sonnet Line 10:
“O! let it then as well beseem thy heart”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beseem thy heart: Suit or become your heart.
Explanation:
The speaker pleads for the beloved’s heart to match the compassion shown by their eyes. This line introduces the idea of the beloved’s heart aligning with their outward appearance, emphasizing the speaker’s desire for genuine empathy. The tone is pleading, underscoring the speaker’s emotional vulnerability.
Sonnet Line 11:
“To mourn for me since mourning doth thee grace,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Mourn for me: Feel sorrow for me.
- Doth thee grace: Adorns or beautifies you.
Explanation:
The speaker argues that mourning for the speaker would enhance the beloved’s beauty, just as their mourning eyes do. This line suggests that compassion and empathy are inherently beautiful qualities. The tone is persuasive, emphasizing the speaker’s desire for the beloved’s pity.
Sonnet Line 12:
“And suit thy pity like in every part.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Suit thy pity: Match your compassion.
- Like in every part: Similarly in every aspect.
Explanation:
The speaker urges the beloved to let their heart match the compassion shown by their eyes, creating a harmonious and consistent expression of empathy. This line reinforces the speaker’s plea for genuine pity. The tone is earnest, highlighting the speaker’s emotional need.
Sonnet Line 13:
“Then will I swear beauty herself is black,”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Beauty herself: The essence of beauty.
- Is black: Is dark or associated with darkness.
Explanation:
The speaker declares that if the beloved shows true compassion, they will swear that beauty itself is dark, aligning with the beloved’s appearance. This line challenges conventional standards of beauty, celebrating the beloved’s unique features. The tone is defiant, emphasizing the speaker’s rejection of societal norms.
Sonnet Line 14:
“And all they foul that thy complexion lack.”
Difficult Words Meaning:
- Foul: Ugly or unattractive.
- Thy complexion: Your appearance or skin tone.
Explanation:
The speaker concludes that those who do not share the beloved’s complexion are unattractive, further challenging conventional beauty standards. This line underscores the speaker’s deep admiration for the beloved’s unique beauty. The tone is triumphant, celebrating the beloved’s distinctiveness.
In-Depth Analysis of Sonnet 132
Summary
In Sonnet 132, the speaker expresses his deep admiration for the eyes of the Dark Lady, claiming to love them because they appear to pity him. He suggests that, while her heart torments him with disdain, her eyes seem to mourn for his suffering. This contrast between her outward expression and her inner cruelty becomes central to the poem.
The speaker then elevates the beauty of her “mourning eyes,” comparing them to grand celestial images. He states that the blackness of her eyes suits her face as perfectly as the golden sunlight suits the “grey cheeks of the east” (the dawn) and as the evening star (Venus) enhances the western sky at sunset.
He then makes a plea: just as blackness enhances her beauty, she should allow her heart to mourn for him in the same way. Since her appearance in mourning (her dark eyes) makes her even more attractive, he asks her to extend that mourning to her emotions by showing him pity.
In the final couplet, he declares that if she does so, he will redefine beauty itself—proclaiming that true beauty is black, and that those who lack a dark complexion are actually ugly. This is a bold reversal of Renaissance beauty standards, which typically favored fair-skinned women.
Critical Analysis
Like many of the Dark Lady sonnets, Sonnet 132 explores unconventional beauty, suffering in love, and emotional contradictions. The speaker both adores and suffers because of the Dark Lady, creating a dynamic of love and torment.
The sonnet also continues Shakespeare’s defense of blackness as beauty. Renaissance England largely associated beauty with fairness, but here, the speaker explicitly states that beauty is defined by darkness. This is a radical declaration, especially considering that earlier poetry often used blackness as a symbol of sin or moral corruption. Instead, Shakespeare transforms it into something glorious.
One of the most striking elements of the poem is the contrast between physical appearance and inner emotions. The speaker sees mourning in the Lady’s eyes, yet she does not extend this pity to her heart. This reinforces the theme of unrequited love—the speaker projects hope onto her gaze, even though she continues to treat him cruelly.
Furthermore, the celestial imagery in the poem elevates the Lady’s beauty to cosmic proportions. By comparing her dark eyes to the morning sun and the evening star, the speaker suggests that her beauty is as natural and inevitable as the movements of the heavens. This reinforces his argument that beauty should not be confined to traditional standards.
However, there is a note of desperation in the poem. The speaker is begging for pity, hoping that if her appearance already suggests mourning, she might as well extend that emotion to him. His final vow—claiming that he will redefine beauty based on her complexion—reads as both a declaration of devotion and an act of defiance against societal norms.
Theme Analysis
- Unconventional Beauty
- The poem challenges the Renaissance ideal that beauty must be fair-skinned. The speaker argues that blackness is not only beautiful but the very definition of beauty.
- Love and Suffering
- The speaker is tormented by the Dark Lady’s disdain, yet he continues to love her. His pain is intensified by the belief that her eyes express pity while her heart does not.
- The Contrast Between Appearance and Emotion
- The Lady’s eyes seem to “mourn” for the speaker, yet her heart remains cruel. This highlights the theme of unrequited love and false hope.
- The Power of Perception in Love
- The speaker’s devotion is so strong that he is willing to redefine beauty itself, proving that love can alter perception and challenge societal norms.
Literary Devices
- Personification
- “Thine eyes I love, and they, as pitying me” → The speaker attributes emotions to the Lady’s eyes, suggesting they have independent feelings separate from her heart.
- Celestial Imagery
- “Not the morning sun of heaven / Better becomes the grey cheeks of the east” → Compares the beauty of her eyes to the dawn, elevating their significance.
- “Nor that full star that ushers in the even” → Refers to Venus, reinforcing the idea that her beauty is cosmic and inevitable.
- Contrast
- The poem contrasts the appearance of mourning (her black eyes) with her lack of emotional sympathy.
- Hyperbole
- “Then will I swear beauty herself is black” → An exaggerated statement to emphasize the speaker’s devotion and challenge beauty conventions.
- Irony
- The speaker claims her eyes are mourning him, yet she shows him no kindness, making the perceived “mourning” deeply ironic.
Conclusion
Sonnet 132 continues Shakespeare’s radical redefinition of beauty, insisting that blackness is not only beautiful but superior to conventional standards. The poem also explores the torment of unrequited love, with the speaker projecting emotions onto the Dark Lady’s eyes that she does not reciprocate.
Ultimately, the sonnet reflects love’s power to reshape perception—the speaker is so enamored with the Dark Lady that he is willing to overturn societal beauty norms in her favor. However, beneath this devotion lies desperation and suffering, making Sonnet 132 a poignant exploration of love’s contradictions.
