How does Shakespeare treat the subject of love and relationships in Sonnets 130 and 138? How do his views on the

Shakespeare's treatment of love and relationships in Sonnets 130 and 138 is both realistic and satirical.

In Sonnet 130, Shakespeare subverts the traditional Petrarchan sonnet, which often idealizes the beloved. Instead of using hyperbolic metaphors to describe his mistress's beauty, he uses realistic descriptions: "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips' red." This approach suggests a more grounded and realistic view of love, one that acknowledges the imperfections of his beloved but loves her nonetheless. The final couplet, "And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare as any she belied with false compare," affirms his love for his mistress despite her lack of conventional beauty.

In Sonnet 138, Shakespeare explores the theme of deception in a relationship. The speaker and his beloved lie to each other to maintain their relationship: "When my love swears that she is made of truth, I do believe her, though I know she lies." This sonnet suggests that sometimes, love involves self-deception and mutual deception.

In both sonnets, Shakespeare presents a more complex and nuanced view of love and relationships, one that goes beyond idealization and romantic clichés. His views on love, as expressed in these sonnets, seem to suggest that love is not always perfect or ideal, but it is still valuable and meaningful despite its flaws and complexities.