'Sonnet 20: A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted' by William Shakespeare
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The Sonnets1609A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted
Hast thou, the master-mistress of my passion;
A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted
With shifting change, as is false women's fashion;
An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling,
Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth;
A man in hue, all hues in his controlling,
Which steals men's eyes and women's souls amazeth.
And for a woman wert thou first created,
Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting,
And by addition me of thee defeated,
By adding one thing to my purpose nothing.But since she pricked thee out for women's pleasure,Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 20: A Woman's Face With Nature's Own Hand Painted
As a lover of Shakespeare's works, I have always been mesmerized by his way of expressing love and desire through his sonnets. Among the many beautiful sonnets that he wrote, Sonnet 20: A Woman's Face with Nature's Own Hand Painted stands out for its sheer beauty and complexity. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deep into the meaning and significance of this sonnet and explore its various themes, motifs, and metaphors.
The Sonnet's Structure and Form
Before we dive into the analysis of the sonnet, let's take a moment to appreciate its structure and form. Like most of Shakespeare's sonnets, this one follows the traditional structure of a sonnet - 14 lines divided into three quatrains and a couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The iambic pentameter, with its ten syllables per line and the pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables, lends a musical quality to the poem, making it pleasing to the ear.
The Poem's Meaning and Significance
At its core, Sonnet 20 is a love poem that celebrates the beauty and perfection of the beloved. The speaker compares the beauty of his beloved to that of Nature, marveling at how her face is painted with Nature's own hand. However, as we dive deeper into the poem, we realize that there is more to it than just a simple love poem. The sonnet is rich in themes of gender, sexuality, and identity, making it a complex and intriguing work of art.
The Gender and Sexual Identity of the Beloved
The gender of the beloved in Sonnet 20 has been a subject of debate among scholars for many years. The speaker refers to his beloved as "he" throughout the poem, using masculine pronouns such as "his," "him," and "he" to describe his beauty. This has led many to believe that the poem is a homoerotic tribute to a male lover. However, others argue that the use of masculine pronouns was a common practice in Shakespeare's time, and that the beloved could be a woman disguised as a man, as was often the case in Elizabethan theatre.
The sexual identity of the speaker is also called into question in the poem. The speaker's admiration and desire for his beloved's beauty seem to transcend traditional notions of gender and sexuality. He marvels at how his beloved's beauty is both masculine and feminine, describing him as having "woman's gentle heart" and "manly grace." The speaker's fluid and non-binary approach to gender and sexuality challenges the rigid societal norms of his time, making this sonnet a daring and progressive work of art.
The Beauty and Perfection of the Beloved
At its core, Sonnet 20 is a celebration of the beauty and perfection of the beloved. The speaker marvels at how his beloved's face is painted with Nature's own hand, comparing him to the beauty of roses and lilies. He marvels at how his beloved's beauty is both masculine and feminine, describing him as having "woman's gentle heart" and "manly grace." The speaker's admiration for the beloved's beauty is almost worshipful, bordering on the divine. He describes his beloved as a "master-mistress of my passion" and a "heavenly touches wrought."
The Use of Metaphors and Motifs
Shakespeare's use of metaphors and motifs in Sonnet 20 adds to its complexity and beauty. The most prominent motif in the poem is that of painting. The speaker compares his beloved's face to a painting, marveling at how it is "painted" with Nature's own hand. This metaphor of painting adds to the idea of the beloved's beauty being a work of art, something to be admired and appreciated. The motif of roses and lilies, two flowers traditionally associated with love and beauty, adds to the beauty and perfection of the beloved.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sonnet 20: A Woman's Face with Nature's Own Hand Painted is a beautiful and complex work of art that challenges traditional notions of gender, sexuality, and identity. The poem's structure and form, coupled with its rich use of metaphors and motifs, add to its beauty and complexity. The speaker's admiration and worshipful attitude towards his beloved's beauty make the sonnet a celebration of the perfection of love. The sonnet's daring and progressive approach to gender and sexuality make it a timeless work of art that continues to inspire and move readers to this day.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 20: A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted is one of the most famous sonnets written by William Shakespeare. This sonnet is a part of a series of 154 sonnets that Shakespeare wrote, and it is considered to be one of the most beautiful and romantic sonnets ever written.
The sonnet begins with the line "A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted," which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker is describing a woman's face, which has been painted by Nature's own hand. This line is significant because it suggests that the woman's beauty is natural and not artificial.
The second line of the sonnet reads, "Hast thou, the master-mistress of my passion." This line is addressed to the woman, who is the subject of the speaker's passion. The use of the word "master-mistress" is interesting because it suggests that the woman has control over the speaker's emotions.
The third line of the sonnet reads, "A woman's gentle heart, but not acquainted." This line suggests that the woman is kind and gentle, but the speaker does not know her well enough to understand her fully.
The fourth line of the sonnet reads, "With shifting change, as is false women's fashion." This line suggests that the woman's beauty is not constant and that it changes with time. The use of the word "false" suggests that the speaker is disappointed by this change.
The fifth line of the sonnet reads, "An eye more bright than theirs, less false in rolling." This line suggests that the woman's eyes are brighter than those of other women and that they are more honest in their movements.
The sixth line of the sonnet reads, "Gilding the object whereupon it gazeth." This line suggests that the woman's eyes make everything she looks at more beautiful.
The seventh line of the sonnet reads, "A man in hue all hues in his controlling." This line suggests that the speaker is a man who is able to control his emotions and that he is able to appreciate the beauty of the woman.
The eighth line of the sonnet reads, "Which steals men's eyes and women's souls amazeth." This line suggests that the woman's beauty is so powerful that it can capture the attention of both men and women.
The ninth line of the sonnet reads, "And for a woman wert thou first created." This line suggests that the woman was created to be a woman and that her beauty is a natural part of her being.
The tenth line of the sonnet reads, "Till Nature, as she wrought thee, fell a-doting." This line suggests that Nature was so enamored with the woman's beauty that she became obsessed with it.
The eleventh line of the sonnet reads, "And by addition me of thee defeated." This line suggests that the speaker was defeated by the woman's beauty and that he was unable to resist her.
The twelfth line of the sonnet reads, "By adding one thing to my purpose nothing." This line suggests that the speaker's purpose was to resist the woman's beauty, but he was unable to do so.
The thirteenth line of the sonnet reads, "But since she prick'd thee out for women's pleasure." This line suggests that the woman was created for the pleasure of women and that her beauty is meant to be enjoyed by all.
The fourteenth line of the sonnet reads, "Mine be thy love and thy love's use their treasure." This line suggests that the speaker wants to be the one who loves the woman and that he wants her love to be shared with other women.
In conclusion, Sonnet 20: A woman's face with Nature's own hand painted is a beautiful and romantic sonnet that celebrates the natural beauty of women. The sonnet is significant because it suggests that women's beauty is a natural part of their being and that it should be celebrated and enjoyed by all. The use of language in the sonnet is also significant because it suggests that the speaker is deeply in love with the woman and that he is unable to resist her beauty. Overall, this sonnet is a beautiful tribute to the natural beauty of women and it is a testament to Shakespeare's skill as a poet.
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