Lies Upon Lies: A thematic explication of William Shakespeare's Sonnet 138

In Shakespeare's sonnet 138, the narrator depicts his relationship and its entanglement in lies. Although the narrator's lover is unfaithful, both pretend to be oblivious to the situation. Through punning and connotation, Shakespeare manifests the same equivocations the narrator and his lover have expressed to each other. Wordplay, creating double meanings and fallacies, allows the reader to experience the many underlying deceits fabricated to preserve their relationship. Throughout the sonnet, the connotations of the word "truth" …

…work for the sonnet simulates the manipulations the couple has created of their own reality. Through use of language, Shakespeare creates a scenario parallel to the original context. This parallel emphasizes the intricate nature of their relationship. The "lies" within their relationship help preserve the "seeming trust." Similarly, the connotations of the word "lies" create the true meaning of the poem. The sonnet's language allows the reader to experience its paradoxes on a multi-dimensional level.