let me speak.

By: Jocelyn Lemus

Whenever one thinks of a sonnet, they automatically hear “oh! a simple poem.” However one should never push away the difference both a sonnet and a poem carry within the message they are trying to convey. A sonnet is more like a guide with rules to structure a poem and a poem is a way of being more open and free of creative writing. When reading and seeing William Shakespeare’s sonnet “my mistress’s eyes are nothing like the sun,” perform by Catherine Tate, I automatically saw a deeper message using the ability of a tone. Tate’s tone became aggressive and frustrating as she was saying in the clip. This is significant because it demonstrates how the sonnet is being brought into the real world. It is not only said, but shown with the expressions the mouth can perceive. Shakespeare does an splendid job when he is trying to embrace the message of the sonnet because he is capable of use words and manipulate the movement of the mouth along with it.

As I was analyzing the sonnet and comparing it to Tate’s mouth movement and emotional tone, I was able to find the emphasis in her words. For example, when she says, “If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun” (line 3). This becomes a vivid and colored line because with the help of Tate’s tone of her voice, she is able to take this phrase and make it hers. Tate was able to enhance the performance of this sonnet because her facial expressions were able to give in the meaning of the sonnet. Not only was that line a vivid one, but also, “My mistress’eyes are nothing like the sun” (line 1). This is also an important because Tate was able to grab this phrase and turn not only into a ray of sunshine, but the entire light alone. Her voice becomes a shape, a loud and strong shade that has no capacity to exist in any dimension.

In the video, one can clearly see Tate’s frustration develop as she recited the sonnet. Her change of tone shifts extremely quickly from how she began to how she ended it. She said it with so much speed, the heavens couldn’t even listen to every word she was saying. Her accent became thicker and her facial expression became more aggressive as if she wanted the English teacher to not just see her, but she through her. Every skin of the sonnet meant something to her, just like it meant something to Shakespeare. Her way of expressing the sonnet became louder and louder making it more possessive and appealing.

Tate was able to grab Shakespeare’s sonnet and make it hers. She made some magic with it using her lips and her tone, only to make it beautiful and persuading.

Not Like Others

Shakespeare’s “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun” recites the idea that though love may be fruitful and beautiful, it is pointless, redundant, and uninspiring to compare one’s lovers to things that blow their being out of proportion. As such, it speaks with a comedic and sarcastic tone as the speaker compares his mistress to grotesque objects or makes fun of her humanly flaws (such as her reeking breath on line 8 and black wires for hair on line 4) rather than comparing her to celestial bodies or items of perfect beauty. By going against the typical layout of romantic poems and keeping a light mood with silly comparisons, Shakespeare’s poem retains his comedic tone without leaning too far to be considered offensive. BBC’s video with the argument between the student and teacher only helps to enhance this sarcasm but also adds its own take on the poem thanks to the context within the skit.

First, the setting of the classroom and the roles between the teacher and student emphasize how Tate (the student) should be respectful to Tennant (the teacher), thus making her outburst and disruption all the more shocking. It goes against the norm, similar to how Shakespeare’s poem goes against the stereotypical, oversaturated romance poems. Tate also only recites Shakespeare’s poem out of spite to prove to Tennant that she knows sonnets and can criticize Shakespeare even if she acts out of turn and misbehaves as a student. That, in combination with how quickly she shouts the poem’s lines at her teacher, creates a tone of condescension; not only is she speaking out against her teacher by proving him better, but she does so in an outburst which then adds a layer of frustration to the poem, making Shakespeare’s words go from comedic to critical of perhaps other authors who would stick to conforming themes of romance. Not to mention, her apathy for her sour attitude in class makes it seem as though she doesn’t care about how she’s breaking rules and making everyone else in the classroom uncomfortable (their discomfort is visible by their utter silence as Tate and Tennant argue with one another).

BBC’s comedy video does enhance the sarcasm behind Shakespeare’s poem, but also adds a different flare of its own given the context of the situation, adding underlying bitterness and patronization as well.

Caitlyn Klemm