Most women hope that they are born to be beautiful; as for virtues, these are what you should cultivate through the interaction with the environment. All in all, both of these qualities are so important that many gentle men praise their beloved women by complimenting their beauties and virtues.
In sonnet 5, Sidney points out the differences between physical beauty and spiritual beauty. Physical beauty is just a kind of imagination which is totally opposite to the spiritual beauty. Physical beauty is not real, and it only exists the exterior of a lady who will get older and older through time passing by. When a lady gets older, anything which is left behind is her virtues. Virtues are a kind of beauty which will last forever and be immortal. Though Astrophill knows that physical beauty does not last long, he still chooses to be the slave to love because of Stella’s fair appearance.
In sonnet 7, Although Stella’s eyes are black which are against the Renaissance standard of beauty like blond hair, blue eyes, and white skin. Even Stella’s eyes are black, Astrophil still loves her eyes and also thinks that her eyes is her most beautiful feature. The reason why Sidney makes Stella’s eyes black is because it is totally different from the Renaissance standards of beauty which makes her unique, and it can not only stand out among people but also be impressive through Stella’s specialty.
In sonnet 52, Astrophil is stuck between love and virtues, and he does not know what he should use to claim Stella by love or virtues. Though love connects the earthly beauty which he wants to praise Stella, he also prefers to compliment Stella with her most important inner qualities. Stella is such a wonderful person who contains virtuous soul, and it makes Astrophil start to turn himself becoming a virtuous person who is worthy to be with Stella.
In sonnet 71, Astrophil suggests that you can find virtues in Stella only when you experience the love of Stella. Sidney individualizes Stella to have the virtues like reason. Reason is a gift from God that allows people to stay away from their sins. Reason is like an internal light or inward sun which stops the approach of the vices. In other word, people who know Stella will only find virtues in her instead of terrible vices, negative passions and bad sins. To sum up, Stella is the person who not only has a fair appearance, but also find possesses physical beauty and spiritual beauty on Stella.
In Renaissance, people often praise their lovers with beauty and virtues. In other word, these two qualities play an extremely important role in that time. If a woman does not contain these certain qualities, then others may think that these girls lack of chastity. In that time, the traditional society is still conservative which is wholly opposite to the present community.
by Esme 2012.4.7
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