Sonnet 138
Appearance
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Sonnet 138 is one of the most famous of William Shakespeare's sonnets. Making use of frequent puns ("lie" and "lie" being the most obvious), it shows an understanding of the nature of truth and flattery in romantic relationships. The poem has also been argued to be biographical: many scholars have suggested Shakespeare used the poem to discuss his frustrating relationship with the Dark Lady, a frequent subject of many of the sonnets. To note, the Dark Lady was definitely not Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway. The poem's emphasis on age and deteriorating beauty may also be issues Shakespeare had to confront as he grew older.
Interpretations
- Richard Johnson, for the 2002 compilation album, When Love Speaks (EMI)