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How does Shakespeare characterize women’s beauty? (sonnet 130 & 18)
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User GegznaV
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Answer:

In sonnet 18, Shakespeare portrays an ideal love for an ideal woman of great and unfading beauty. It is more of a traditional love sonnet. He compares her beauty to that of nature, placing her above all other beings in terms of grace and allure. This love appears to be principally based upon physical appearance.

In sonnet 130, Shakespeare characterises the woman's beauty as highly flawed, imperfect, and filled with realistic (for the time) shortcomings. He describes the ways in which her appearance and allure does not reflect that of nature, by comparison... ex: the sun, coral, roses, perfume.... he does not see her as a goddess and states that her breath "reeks". In spite of it, he is able to love her. Thus, this love is entirely separate from appearance.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Jmleroux
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