What was Big Willy Shakes going for?
When you read these lines, think of Miranda as the mouthpiece for Shakespeare. She's basically expressing the idea that human beings (and life in general) are pretty marvelous, despite the fact that we are all flawed creatures. Touching, isn't it? And very much in the Big Willy vein.
We know what you're thinking. Miranda has no real life experience to speak of (hello, she's been on the isle since she was a baby), so her judgment is questionable at best. Can she really make sweeping statements about all of mankind when she's only met a handful of men ever?
Okay, we admit that Miranda is pretty naïve. But that's part of what makes her such an endearing figure. She's sweet. If you want to get fancy about it, you could say that in the play, she represents the guileless innocence of youth.
Sure, she might be innocent, but this quote? It's anything but. We mean, she's practically drooling over how hot these sailor men are. See, back in Shakespeare's day, brave didn't mean courageous. It meant handsome, finely dressed, noble, or bedazzled. The gist here is that Miranda first lays eyes on men who aren't her father (or his slave), and immediately notices that they're super attractive. Turns out she's not so innocent after all.
But there's also a deeper meaning at work here that only really makes sense if you've read the play in its entirety. Luckily, we have. Here's the thing: the guys she's looking at are not good guys. In fact, between them, they have stolen a Dukedom, plotted to murder Prospero, and come up with a whole list of drunken schemes. But Miranda doesn't know all that. Only Prospero and the audience do.
So when Shakespeare gives her this line, he's highlighting her rather naïve sexuality. She's a fourteen year old who is literally discovering guys even exist for the first time. But she's also really superficial. She thinks the world has amazing creatures, when in fact, they're pretty evil, treasonous, deceitful men.
That sounds like some dark sarcasm to us.