Sonnet 138 by William Shakespeare

The poem suggests that mutual self-deception lies at the core of this relationship — and perhaps in love overall. Both the speaker and his lover are aware of each other's lies, yet they opt to maintain the facade because the comforting illusion feels better than facing the harsh truth. Shakespeare doesn't pass judgment on this; instead, he offers it with a sense of bittersweet acceptance.

"Therefore I lie with her, and she with me" plays on the word "lie" in two ways: to tell falsehoods and to lie down with someone (meaning to sleep together). This is one of Shakespeare's most clever puns — a single word that neatly intertwines the poem's two main themes of deception and desire.

Nobody knows for sure. Over the centuries, scholars have suggested various candidates — like Emilia Lanier, Mary Fitton, and Lucy Morgan — but none has been definitively proven. What’s important for understanding the poem is that she embodies a different kind of love object compared to the idealized young man in the earlier sonnets: she is flawed, experienced, and the relationship with her is complex.

He wants her to believe he’s young and naive enough to overlook her dishonesty. This strokes his ego—if she sees him as young, he gets to feel youthful too. The irony is that he acknowledges the whole scheme is futile since she’s already aware that his "best days are behind him."

"Habit" here refers to both a custom and a costume or disguise. Shakespeare suggests that the finest attire for love is the appearance of trust — not necessarily trust itself. It's a cynical yet truthful insight: the foundation of this relationship isn't authentic belief in one another, but rather a mutual act of pretending.

Yes. It uses the traditional format: three quatrains (four-line stanzas) followed by a couplet, all written in iambic pentameter with the rhyme scheme ABAB CDCD EFEF GG. The couplet, as is common in Shakespeare's sonnets, provides the poem's punchline or resolution — in this instance, the well-known double-meaning final lines.

Both, really. The speaker isn't angry or heartbroken — he seems almost fond of the whole situation. The lies are referred to as "flattery," suggesting they still bring some comfort. There's a warmth in how he describes their shared game, even though he sees it for what it is. It feels less like a critique of love and more like a weary, affectionate acknowledgment.

Sonnet 18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?") presents an idealized view — the beloved is depicted as perfect, made eternal by the poem. In contrast, Sonnet 138 reveals flaws in both the beloved and the speaker, with their relationship relying on mutual deception instead of genuine devotion. Together, these two sonnets capture the breadth of Shakespeare's perspective on love — covering everything from the ecstatic to the practical.