Sonnet 138 - 1084 Words

Truth and honesty are key elements to a good, healthy relationship. However, in Shakespeares Sonnet 138, the key to a healthy relationship between the speaker and the Dark Lady is keeping up the lies they have constructed for one another. Through wordplay Shakespeare creates different levels of meaning, in doing this, he shows the nature of truth and flattery in relationships. Shakespeares Sonnet 138 is one of his sonnets about the Dark Lady. Dark both in appearance, and in her actions, she is once again the subject of the sonnet. The speaker is the lover of the Dark Lady. Whether the speaker is married to her or not is not completely clear. Based on lines regarding age â€Å"...she knows my days are past the best† (6), it seems†¦show more content†¦In the second quatrain, the speaker is talking more about growing old, and the fact that both of them are lying to each other. This quatrain confirms what is set up in the first quatrain, that she treats him like he is a younger man than he is. The line â€Å"Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young†(5) is the speaker telling us that he is tricking himself into believing that she thinks he is like a younger man. The speaker is not very confident at all. He lets his own vanity get in the way of the Dark Ladys infidelities. She tells him what he wants to hear even though she knows its not true, as is evident when the speaker says â€Å"Although she knows my days are past the best†(6) and he gladly accepts these lies. With her accepting the lie that he is a younger man, in return, he must accept the lie that she is telling him. In the last line of the quatrain, the line â€Å"On both sides thus is a simple truth suppressd†(8) says that both the speaker and the Dark Lady are ignoring reality in order to keep the status quo of their relationship. In order to feel better about themselves. In the last quatrain, the speaker seems to be justifying the mutual lying th at is going on between the two. He starts by asking â€Å"why doesnt she just tell me she is unfaithful?† and â€Å"why dont I just admit I am old?†, but this turns out to be rhetoricalShow MoreRelatedSonnet 1381545 Words   |  7 Pagesorder for a poem to be classified as a sonnet, it must meet certain structural requirements, and Sonnet 138, quot;When my love swears that she is made of truth,quot; is a perfect example. Shakespeare employs the traditional rhyme scheme of the English sonnet, the poem is made up of three quatrains and a rhyming couplet, and iambic pentameter is the predominant meter. However, it would be an error to approach this poem as a traditional Shakespearean love sonnet. It is a ‘love poem in the sense thatRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Sonnet 138863 Words   |  4 PagesSometimes it is just easier to ignore the obvious rather than accepting the facts. Sadly this is exactly how this poem seems to plays out. Sonnet 138 is one of William Sha kespeare most famous sonnets. The poem emphasizes the effects of age on the relationship, the mutual decision of dishonesty, and the mysterious and infamous ‘Dark Lady’. Subsequently, in the sonnet Shakespeare references a lot to his numerical number in life. The line â€Å"that she might think me some untutored youth† points out that theRead MoreEssay on Love in Shakespeares Sonnet 138702 Words   |  3 PagesThe Philosophy of Love in Sonnet 138  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Shakespeare was a superb philosopher, but in his sonnets, he was a philosopher of love.   Shakespeare sets forth the experiences of love and its torments fully within his sonnets.   The philosophy of love is that, love reconciles all.   Love is the evil and the good, the lies and the truth.   Love is all there is. It passion as well as deception and lies. Sonnet 138, is a notable example of Shakespeares philosophy of love.   WrittenRead More Justifying Mutual Deceit in William Shakespeares Sonnet 138 1855 Words   |  8 PagesJustifying Mutual Deceit in William Shakespeares Sonnet 138 A common conception of William Shakespeare’s poetry entails complex language and hidden meanings. Shakespeare is famous for his ability to author a web of images that creates layers of interpretations and understandings. In Sonnet 138 however, Shakespeare is more direct in describing hisRead More Midlife Crisis in William Shakespeares Sonnet 138 Essay1954 Words   |  8 PagesCrisis in William Shakespeares Sonnet 138 William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Sonnet 138† presents an aging man’s rationalization for deceit in an affair with a younger woman. The speaker of the sonnet realizes his mistress lies to him about being faithful. He in turn, portrays himself as younger than he actually is: â€Å"When my love swears that she is made of truth / I do believe her though I know she lies, / That she might think me some untutored youth†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (1-3). â€Å"Sonnet 138† allows the reader a glimpse intoRead MoreComparing To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell and Sonnet 138 by William Shakespeare3032 Words   |  13 PagesComparing To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell and Sonnet 138 by William Shakespeare I am comparing To His Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell (1640) and Sonnet 138 by William Shakespeare (1590). The similarities between both poems are that they both use a certain amount of syllables throughout each poem. To His Coy Mistress uses 8 syllables per line, and Sonnet 138 uses 10 syllables per line. Another obvious similarity is that they both end with a couplet. They bothRead MoreShakespeare Sonnet 1381910 Words   |  8 PagesJustifying Mutual Deceit A common conception of William Shakespeare’s poetry entails complex language and hidden meanings. Shakespeare is famous for his ability to author a web of images that creates layers of interpretations and understandings. In Sonnet 138 however, Shakespeare is more direct in describing his relationship with his lover by avoiding imagery and metaphors, explaining to the reader that this seemingly unconventional relationship is indeed justified. Shakespeare constructs a persona ofRead MoreSonnet 138, by William Shakespeare963 Words   |  4 Pageshook) William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 138 depicts the relationship of a couple, who many believe to be Shakespeare and his mistress, a woman referred to as, The Black Lady. Throughout the sonnet the vast use of imagery causes the reader to imagine the sonnet as if it were a play where the characters are covered by a mask of lies. (Put a clever transition in here) Although Sonnet 138 depicts the speakers’ willingness to settle for false love and put on a mask, Sonnet 138 depicts a relationship that itsRead MoreCritique of William Shakespeares Sonnet 138 Essay710 Words   |  3 PagesShakespeares Sonnet 138 In â€Å"Sonnet 138† also known as â€Å"When My Love Swears that she is Made of Truth† is a sonnet written by William Shakespeare, has many examples of literary elements such as personification and various types of rhyme. In â€Å"Sonnet 138† the author writes the sonnet in iambic pentameter and writes in an ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG rhyme scheme. The narrator also includes examples of connotation and denotation to help change the meaning of the poem. Throughout the sonnet the author obviouslyRead MoreThe Effects Of Time In Sonnet 138 And Sir Walter Raleighs Sonnet 116872 Words   |  4 Pageseffects of time in William Shakespeares â€Å"Sonnet 138† and Sir Walter Raleigh’s â€Å"The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd† Being a constant and unalterable force of nature, time is constant subject of renaissance poetry. While some poems have time as the main subject of their conceits, other poems such as William Shakespeare’s â€Å"Sonnet 138† and Sir Walter Raleigh â€Å"The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd† have conceits that focus on other themes, but still portray time. â€Å"Sonnet 138† is a man pondering the changes of his