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Moral-Philosophical

Shakespeare's "Sonnet 138" idealizes deceit and dishonesty in a relationship. The dishonesty and lust of both the poet and his mistress makes up their relationship which creates an attitude or mood of nonchalance. However, this mood understates the seriousness of their immoral behavior. Their behavior towards one another lacks respect and trust but neither can tell nor admit the truth because both know it would destroy their relationship. Therefore, both accept the other's deceit and dishonesty and accept his/her dishonesty. The couple is too dishonest and impure to become honest again therefore they must continue their lies to make up for their lack of honesty. Their desire for one another is the other reason why the couple stays together, however, their lust causes them to be dishonest because the poet’s mistress cannot stay faithful and the poet’s wish to be young overpowers his sense of right from and wrong and he allows himself to be persuaded into lying through flattery.

Formalistic

Shakespeare's "Sonnet 138" uses many rhetorical and literary devices to convey its purpose and meaning. This poem uses diction and irony, especially to convey its purpose or meaning. Through Shakespeare’s use of diction, repetition and double meaning or ambiguity can be identified throughout the poem. In particular, the use of ambiguity and repetition of the word “lies” reveals the reasons why the couple stays together. The word “lies” means both being dishonest and the intimate relationship between the couple. The couple stays together because of their lust for one another and also because of their acceptance of each other’s lies and flattery. So although the poet’s mistress is unfaithful, the two are committed to one another. The irony in this poem is overwhelming and the analysis of the poem reveals that the couple lies to another and accepts those lies as though they are true and allows flattery to influence one another. This is ironic because the couple knows that what they are saying are lies but they continue to lie to one another to prevent the downfall of their relationship. This poem also uses understatement to downplay the couple’s deception in order to increase the effectiveness of Shakespeare’s words.