Compare and contrast Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130 with Benjamin Zephanaiah’s “Miss World”

The reggae rhythm is often used to attack western culture. The Caribbean culture used the reggae rhythm to speak out in times of despair when Negroes were persecuted. Reggae has a distinctive sound, which originates from the West Indies. Zephanaiah writes "put de judge in the grave,". The word "grave" is a very strong word. He is almost suggesting the "judge" should be killed. When he says, "judge" I do not think he is only referring to the judges of these so called "Miss World" beauty pageants but anybody that is judgemental in this way. Every person on the planet has judged somebody at some time in his or her lives, so does everybody deserve to die? It becomes apparent that Zephanaiah is also unhappy with other types of persecutions, namely racism. Zephanaiah makes several references to slavery and how his sister "don't want to go to the market to be viewed like a slave" and be viewed like her ancestors were, like second class citizens. He carefully intertwines womanhood and slavery. He is clearly referring to women that have been forced to become prostitutes in the red light districts of the world. Zephanaiah shows his rage to these activities as well as his disgust with how some people feel that women are tradable.

Both poems use non-comparisons. Shakespeare say his "mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;" and that "no such roses see I in her cheeks;". Shakespeare clearly mocks the love poets of the era; for example in the poem "Fidessa" by Bartholomew Griffin his lady's

"eyes the brightest stars the heavens hold;

Her cheeks, red roses, such as seld have been;"

Fidessa line 3

Benjamin Griffin wrote Fidessa in 1596. Sonnet 130 was written just thirteen years later in 1609. Fidessa is written in the style typical to the love poetry of the time. Shakespeare clearly detests this style of writing, so writes a poem to mock it. Shakespeare's poem is written in a sarcastic manner. Zephanaiah, however, uses different types of non comparisons like "her value is not prize money". She is priceless. Human souls are not designed for trading; a price cannot be put on a life. The difference in effect is a much angrier feeling to the more modern of the two poems.

Neither one of the poems describes the female as a woman, lady or even wife. Shakespeare uses "mistress". Mistress' are associated with power and control; they are on a level with any male equivalents. Zephanaiah uses the word "sister". Again he is trying to show the female as an equal to the male. In both poems this has the same effect; the female is treated in the same way as a man. Both poets are trying to give a certain amount of respect to women.

Both poems feature the same basic themes of sexual discrimination, the only difference being the tone they are written in. Sonnet 130 is written to mock the poets of the time whilst "Miss World" is written in resentment and exasperation.

Raj Purewal GCSE English Created on 30/10/2001 21:00

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