# CXXXI explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The speaker addresses the Dark Lady, acknowledging her tyrannical beauty and the conflict between public opinion and his own adoration. He admits that others find her unattractive, but he swears to himself that she is the fairest, though her deeds are black, which gives rise to slander.

## Themes in this chapter

### Truth and Deception

The speaker grapples with the disparity between public perception and his private truth, swearing to himself that the Dark Lady is fairest despite others' claims.

### Lust and Morality

The Dark Lady's 'black deeds' suggest moral corruption, yet the speaker's desire persists, highlighting the tension between lust and ethical judgment.

## Character check-ins

### William Shakespeare

The speaker, expressing conflicted devotion to the Dark Lady.

### Love

Personified as the force that makes the speaker groan in adoration.

## Key lines

> Thou art as tyrannous, so as thou art, As those whose beauties proudly make them cruel;

You are as tyrannical as those whose beauty makes them arrogantly cruel.

_The speaker compares the Dark Lady's beauty-driven cruelty to that of other proud beauties._

> In nothing art thou black save in thy deeds, And thence this slander, as I think, proceeds.

You are not black in any way except in your actions, and I believe that is the source of the slander against you.

_The speaker defends the Dark Lady's appearance but condemns her immoral actions, which cause others to speak ill of her._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cxxxi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters