Sonnet 138 - Love vs Anti Love

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Sonnet 138, William Shakespeare At first read, I felt the sonnet to be simply about sweet, innocent love. The mistress knows the man is old, but lies to him and he kindly accepts the lie/compliment as it makes him feel good. They each know the real truth, but it makes their relationship work and no matter what outsiders think, or what the real truth is, her love for him, regardless of age, is all that matters However, upon further investigation and several re reads, it seems Shakespeare is telling a story of mutual hypocrisy, and acceptance of both the mistress’ and the man’s faults , purely to fulfill basic sexual needs. The puns used in the first two lines "When my love swears that she is made of truth, / I do believe her, though I know she lies” hints that the man accepts his mistress is not pure and honest. “Simply I credit her false-speaking tongue, / On both sides thus is simple truth supress’d” The use of ‘on both sides’ indicate that both the mistress and the man are lying to each other, but accept, or ‘suppress’ each others flaws to pursue the physical relationship. I don’t feel that it would be an affectionate or loving partnership – just an uncomplicated exchange of sex. I feel the mistress’ lies would boost the man’s ego, and fill his need to be reassured that he is still desirable, despite his advancing age. And the mistress can ‘lie’ with the man without her honour or fidelity being questioned. It would be disadvantageous for them to point out the faults to each other, as the relationship – which currently comfortably serves them both – would end - "Therefore I lie with her and she with me, / And in our faults by lies we flattered be." You can’t have true love with lies and deceit, but if both parties are aware then it can become their own type of love – comfortable, practical love. There are many shades and degrees of love, and
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