Review of Sonnet 79 by : Edmund Spenser

Sonnet 79

Men call you fayre and you doe credit it,
For that your selfe ye dayly such doe see:
But the trew fayre, that is the gentle wit,
And vertous mind, is much more praysd of me.

For all the rest, how ever fayre it be,
Shall turne to nought and loose that glorious hew:
But onely that is permanent and free
From frayle corruption, that doth flesh ensew

That is true beautie: that doth argue you
To be divine and borne of heavly seed:
Derived from that fayre Spirit, from whom al true
And perfect beauty did at first proceed.

He onely fayre, and what he fayre hath made:
All other fayre, lyke flowres, untymely fade.

 Out of the three Spencerian sonnets I read, I would have to say that 79 was my favorite. The other two, being equally well written and with amazing imagery didn't speak to me as much as this one did. In our days it seems that a lot of thought is being put into our appearances. Girls always worry about their faces, about their bodies and in general all that is shallow about humans. I admit that I am like that too, but only because society makes it so. The message that is being spread (especially through media) is that guys like skinny girls, with beautiful skin etc etc. We are pretty much accessories to them. Another things is that many girls (especially those that are qualified as "pretty" ) have a lot of pride and vanity. When we are called fair, we accept it because we ourselves see the  mirror every morning ("For that yourself you daily such do see" (2) ). So if we succeed in becoming what is "right" we are obviously contempt, even if it was at the expense of something else. Why I like this poem, is because Spencer makes a comment that's not only satisfying to me, but that sends a message to women of his time and our time. Men (at least those that we want -POETS = hot ) value inner beauty above all else. Sure we should take care of appearance, but not to the point where it becomes an obsession. A women's mind and her virtues - her intelligence, how well she can keep up with conversation, emotional connections, have far greater importance than our beauty. We need to realize that with age beauty fades ( "For all the rest, however fair it be, Shall turn to naught and lose that glorious hue" (5-6)), but what is within us stays intact (unless you have Alzheimer's or some unfortunate disease). Spencer states that true beauty is heavenly and almost angelic, which means that being a good person and having a good personality is much more important that our physique. To me its nice to be reassured once more and hear those words. In a world where everything is about outer beauty, its good to know that some people (even if they lived many many years ago) value inner beauty more. 

In my life I wish to find my second half based on true beauty. I don't want to fall in love with someone only because they are handsome, and I don't want them to to fall for me, only because they think I'm pretty. In love you need to have a real connection and have things to talk about, or else, after the passion is over and the beauty has faded, what will there be to stay together for ? In essence the cliche is true, what's inside matters more than what's outside, and Spencer just words it in a beautiful way !  

"All other fair, like flowers, untimely fade." 

We will eventually grow old and not be as fresh and lively as before, but what stays in our minds and in our hearts, won't change, and if we find love based on that, it will remain eternal, when all else dies.  

Rating: 5/5 - A definite must read :)