Beauty Lies in the Eyes of the Beholder

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My professor discussed Shakespeare's Sonnet 131 today. This is part of the dark lady sonnets. There was something about it that hit me. There was something my professor mentioned when he was teaching. It was something related to a wedding. A groom was asked a question that I honestly hope no woman every has to hear. It was something along the lines of 'how do you find her (the bride) beautiful?' The groom's reply was perfect. He said that it didn't matter who found her (his wife) beautiful or not. All that mattered was that he thought she was beautiful and perfect.

The narrator in the sonnet says that the lady's beauty is captivating, even though she is tyrannical and cruel. She knows she holds power over him, but she still does so. The speaker doesn't mind because he thinks she is the most precious jewel. He doesn't want to lose her by speaking out. He goes on to say that the society doesn't share his thoughts. They don't find her beautiful. He doesn't have the strength to speak out against them. Now, here's what got me. 

If you love someone, or if you believe something, you should be able to fight for it. Here, the speaker is so in love with this woman, but he's not willing to fight for it. What's the point if it's not worth fighting for. 

My favorite part of the lecture was my professor's personal anecdote. It's proof that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Every woman is the most beautiful woman in the world, in someone's eyes - whether that's a lover, or a brother, or a father, or a son. No one should have to conform to society's standards. 

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