Poetry · Chapter
Sonnet CXXVII explained
The poet defends black as a legitimate form of beauty, arguing that artificial enhancements have slandered true beauty, and praises his mistress's dark features as natural and genuine.
What happens
The poet defends black as a legitimate form of beauty, arguing that artificial enhancements have slandered true beauty, and praises his mistress's dark features as natural and genuine.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because the speaker reaches an emotional and psychological peak of self-aware torm…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Truth and Deception
The poem contrasts natural black beauty with the artificial 'borrow'd face' of cosmetics, critiquing societal deception.
- Beauty and Transience
Explores shifting standards of beauty and the enduring quality of natural appearance.
Characters to notice
- William Shakespeare
The speaker, defending the beauty of his dark mistress against conventional standards.
Key passages
“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”
In past times, black was not considered beautiful, or if it was, it wasn't called beauty; but now black has become beauty's rightful successor.
The poet redefines beauty to include dark features.
“For since each hand hath put on nature’s power, Fairing the foul with art’s false borrow’d face”
Because everyone now uses cosmetics to artificially improve their appearance, disguising ugliness with false art.
Critique of the widespread use of makeup as a form of deception.
“Therefore my mistress’ brows are raven black, Her eyes so suited, and they mourners seem At such who, not born fair, no beauty lack, Slandering creation with a false esteem”
Thus my mistress's eyebrows and eyes are black, and they appear to mourn for those who, though not naturally fair, lack no beauty but slander nature by falsely valuing themselves.
The dark lady's features are portrayed as mourning the artificiality of others.
