Option 2: Reflecting on "My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun" by William Shakespeare and "Dim Lady" by Harryette Mullen reveals both conformity and rebellion within the sonnet tradition. Shakespeare's sonnet adheres to the traditional structure and theme, describing the mistress's imperfections with a concluding couplet emphasizing the speaker's enduring love.
In contrast, Mullen's "Dim Lady" rebels against this tradition by playfully subverting Shakespeare's sonnet. Mullen uses humor, wordplay, and a modern context to challenge traditional beauty standards. The rebellious nature lies in her deviation from the conventional sonnet structure and her reimagining of the mistress as a contemporary woman with unique qualities.
This subversion adds layers of meaning and highlights the evolution of poetic expression while maintaining a connection to the sonnet tradition through intertextuality.