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[Literature Girl]

Hello evrybody,
How are you today??
I'll discuss the sonnet 138 with you,:grouphug:


This's the sonnet:
When my love swears that she is made of truth
I do believe her, though I know she lies,
That she might think me some untutor'd youth,
Unlearned in the world's false subtleties.
Thus vainly thinking that she thinks me young,
Although she knows my days are past the best,
Simply I credit her false speaking tongue:
On both sides thus is simple truth suppress'd.
But wherefore says she not she is unjust?
And wherefore say not I that I am old?
O, love's best habit is in seeming trust,
And age in love loves not to have years told:
Therefore I lie with her and she with me,
And in our faults by lies we flatterd be.



Ok, Let's start:):idea:
Don't forget we want to analyse it verse by verse*.
* ( Explain the meaning & figurative & images & everything.)

Best Wishes
BRB:wave:

[Albion]

A sonnet on the Shakespeare model of 3 quatrains (rhyme scheme a,c, b,d) followed by a couplet as moral or conclusion (rhyme scheme a,b).

The female 3rd person pronoun confirms it belongs to the group concerning a lady. But to whom is the sonnet addressed: to a 3rd party or is it merely a soliloquy; use of "my love" indicates that it is not spoken to the lady.
The subject treats of truth and lies and the cunning self deception of both parties. It shows typical Shakespearean modesty where the writer is happy to sublimate his superior knowledge within the diplomacy of a good relationship.

1st quatrain
Some conflict arises in the compression of the line when he is expressed to be both believing and knowing that she lies.
He hopes that she will wrongly think him inexperienced in believing her untruths.
2nd quatrain
He is flattered in the deceit that she holds him younger than he is but realises she must know the truth; but life is simplified for both parties by accepting her view.
3rd quatrain
Why do not both parties speak truly? It is better to dissemble especially when one is old and unwilling to upset the comfort of the relationship.
Couplet
They both tell their lies to each other and profit thereby.

Issues arising:
1. Is it better to tell the truth or a white lie in order to remain friends?
2. Is telling the truth in these circumstances always advisable and should one ever correct a misapprehension?
3. What is the importance of truth telling either in general or in these particular circumstances?
4. Does he want the girl to think him inexperienced in life because he is, presumably, older than she and is therefore flattered to comply?
5. Does the girl realize that he knows she lies?
6. How does he know that she lies? She may not be lying.
7. Is he right not to undeceive her?
8. Is this a genuine love where the lovers are happy in their self deceptions
knowing that the truths are evident to both parties; or are they afraid of revealing the weaknesses in their relationship?
9. Need we impute too many assertions into the relationship or simply admire it as a fine piece of literature?