Logan Null

Ms. Gardner

English 10H/Period 5

5 September 2017

Sonnet 138 Analysis

In Sonnet 138, two lovers flatter one another by lying: Through these lies, the love survives. In

this sonnet, Shakespeare uses both fluid sound devices and harsh diction to portray the situation of the

two lovers. In the first quatrain, the slithering consonance of “swears,” “lies,” and “false subtleties” gives

the “lies” which the poet talks about a likeness of snakes, silently hissing in a corner, sitting unnoticed.

The lies are ignored by both the man and woman, even though they are clearly present, just as snakes

would be quite obvious in an otherwise silent space. Repetition of the “tuh” sound in line three

strengthens the image of an “untutored youth”; this sound bears a resemblance to the tapping of a

chalkboard, which an “unlearned” child would find very familiar. Having a cacophonous nature, lies and

untruthful words are represented by the cacophony of the words “simply,” “credit,” and “speaking.” The

harsh diction of “false-speaking tongue” gives the biting feeling that comes with lies, and makes it sound

as if the poet is accusing his love of lying, yet on both sides is “simple truth suppressed.” How calmly the

truth is floating to the bottom of this relationship, and how gently the lies are being created is revealed by

the euphony of this phrase. The first two lines of the last quatrain present confusing diction: “wherefore

says she not she is unjust” and “wherefore say not I that I am old.” Time must be taken to truly

understand what is really being said, and what this situation is as a whole. Two rhyming, yet contradicting

words in this quatrain perfectly sum up the lovers’ relationship: “trust” and “unjust.” While they would

love to trust each other, as “love’s best habit is in seeming trust,” the two lovers know that both of them

are being unjust by lying to each other. They are both old and the woman lies, thinking that there is youth

still left in this relationship. These lies, however, flatter each other, as “age in love, loves not to have
years told,” and the lovers would much rather pretend to be young. The pun in the final couplet,

“therefore I lie with her,” emphasizes the meaning of this poem: the poet lies with her in bed, and he lies

with her, pretending that they are both young. These two lovers speak to common, everyday relationships:

the flaws of one another are ignored and lied about, flattering the other and making for a happier

relationship. Ultimately, the poet presents the statement that humans grow older and acquire

imperfections, yet none of that matters, and all that is left is your love when you are with the one you truly

cherish.