Jackson Vaughn

Ms. Gardner

English 10H/Period 5

5 September 2017

Sonnet 138 Analysis

Deceit is good in small quantities: to make the people you love feel better it is necessary

to lie. In Sonnet 138 the thoughts and feelings of a couple in love are expressed a call and

response sonnet. The idea of deceit is emphasized throughout the sonnet with “simply I credit

her false speaking tongue” at the end of the poem it is said “Therefore I lie with her and she with

me and in out fault by lies we flattered be.” (13-14) The speaker of the poem believes it

necessary to lie about the insecurities of your partner as to not hurt their feelings. The use of the

consonance diction with “ “Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,” the words flow with a

slight pause with the “t” sound. It shows the harshness and the deliberate intention in the

diction. In the seventh line it continues with euphony this time with the “s” sound. The “s” sound

gives a flow of the language and unlike the third line the s sound gives no breaks, but has one

word flow into the next. The idea that there is no enjambment shows the idea that every line is

its own idea. Every line shows its own little story and every word its own tale. Shakespeare

obviously chose every word with such purpose such as “vainly” “unjust” and “false speaking”.

These words so eloquently describe the speaker's lover but they are not to complex as to take

the main focus away from the words, but just enough. As Shakespeare continues the sonnet he

uses call and response to illuminate the opinions of both lovers. This call and response reveals

how the two lovers are willing to lie for each other to make each other feel better. Again, deceit

is good in small quantities, according to this play it is fundamental to have small white lies for a

relationship.