My Interpretation of Sonnet 138 William Shakespeare

My Interpretation of Sonnet 138

William Shakespeare is known for his ability to use words and put them in a way many meanings can be derived. Because of the beauty of his words and many interpretations of his work, he has stood the test of time. William Shakespeare simultaneously used structure, word choice, and tone to make each sonnet unique.

All of Shakespeare’s sonnets are structured to have fourteen lines divided into three quatrains and one couplet. The quatrains are usually separate ideas with different tones and a couplet at the end of the sonnet tying the three quatrains together. However Sonnet 138 is slightly different than most of his sonnets because its first two quatrains are the same in tone. The first quatrain and second quatrains tell the reader of each lover’s deceit to the other. The third quatrain is where the tone begins to differ. Shakespeare uses iambic pentameter and rhyme in the sonnet so that it can be read in a more fluid and comprehensive way. The sonnet is written in ABAB format to give the poem a better sound when read aloud.

Shakespeare’s work has been famous for many reasons and will continue to be great, but his word usage may be what he is most famous for. In Sonnet 138, he used word plays, paradoxes, and metaphors to give depth to the meaning of the poem. With so many different possibilities for interpretation of the same poem, individuals may use their imaginations and take what they want from it.

Line 1 in the sonnet begins with an interesting revelation to the reader where it says “When my love swears that she is made of truth/ I do believe her, though, I know she lies”. These first two lines imply there is a problem in the relationship that needs to be fixed, because “swear” was used, it suggests that she, who is commonly referred to as the dark lady, may not be “made of truth”. The next few lines in the sonnet suggest that the persona may be afraid of losing the dark lady because he says in line 3 he is an “untutored youth.” These first two lines of the sonnet use a paradox and words with double meanings to make the reader think twice about what the persona is really saying. Immediately, it is obvious that the persona pretends to believe her though he knows she lies, but “lies” can have a double meaning. It can either mean not telling the truth or that the dark lady is sleeping with someone else. “Made” in line 2 also