William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 152 is a profound exploration of love, betrayal, and the internal conflict that arises from broken vows. The sonnet follows the traditional structure of a Shakespearean sonnet: it consists of 14 lines written in iambic pentameter and divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. However, its themes are far from conventional. It delves into the speaker’s complex emotional state as he grapples with the paradox of love and the contradictions inherent in human relationships.
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 152
In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn,
But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing;
In act thy bed-vow broke, and new faith torn
In vowing new hate after new love bearing.
But why of two oaths’ breach do I accuse thee
When I break twenty? I am perjured most,
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee,
And all my honest faith in thee is lost.
For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy;
And to enlighten thee gave eyes to blindness,
Or made them swear against the thing they see.
For I have sworn thee fair; more perjured eye,
To swear against the truth so foul a lie.
The Structure and Tone of Sonnet 152
Sonnet 152 is composed in the familiar Shakespearean form, with its three quatrains and a concluding rhymed couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, a typical arrangement for Shakespeare’s sonnets. The meter of the poem is iambic pentameter, adding to its rhythmic flow. Despite its formal structure, the content of the poem is far from orderly or predictable. The tone of the poem is a mixture of self-reflection, sorrow, and frustration. The speaker is caught between the pain of being betrayed by his lover and his own guilt for having betrayed the love he once pledged. The paradoxical nature of the poem reflects the dissonance between what the speaker feels and what he acknowledges as his own failings.
Analysis of Sonnet 152
Lines 1–4
“In loving thee thou know’st I am forsworn,
But thou art twice forsworn, to me love swearing;
In act thy bed-vow broke, and new faith torn
In vowing new hate after new love bearing.”
In the opening quatrain, the speaker addresses his lover directly, acknowledging the contradictions in their relationship. He begins by admitting that in loving the person, he is “forsworn,” meaning he has violated a previous vow or promise—likely referring to a commitment made to someone else. However, the speaker quickly shifts the blame back onto his lover, accusing them of being “twice forsworn.” This implies that the lover has broken a vow of fidelity, symbolized by the “bed-vow” (a vow made in the sacred context of marriage or intimate relations). The lover’s act of breaking faith is compounded by their new betrayal: they have sworn new hate after experiencing new love. The language here reveals a deep sense of frustration and betrayal, as the speaker highlights the lover’s hypocrisy in their vows.
Lines 5–8
“But why of two oaths’ breach do I accuse thee
When I break twenty? I am perjured most,
For all my vows are oaths but to misuse thee,
And all my honest faith in thee is lost.”
The speaker begins to introspect in these lines, questioning the righteousness of accusing his lover of betrayal when he himself is equally guilty. He admits that he has broken not just one oath, but “twenty,” revealing that his own actions have been just as dishonest and contradictory as those of the lover he condemns. The phrase “I am perjured most” suggests that the speaker sees himself as the greater sinner because, unlike his lover, he has been dishonest not only in matters of love but also in his broader conduct. The speaker confesses that all his vows have been “oaths but to misuse thee,” implying that he has made promises and pledges not out of genuine love, but as a means to manipulate or control his lover. In this way, the speaker acknowledges that his “honest faith” has been corrupted, and he has lost any true affection for the person he claims to love.
Lines 9–12
“For I have sworn deep oaths of thy deep kindness,
Oaths of thy love, thy truth, thy constancy;
And to enlighten thee gave eyes to blindness,
Or made them swear against the thing they see.”
In the third quatrain, the speaker continues to reflect on the oaths he has made in the past. He mentions that he swore deep oaths of his lover’s “deep kindness,” “love,” “truth,” and “constancy.” These are lofty, noble qualities—virtues that are essential in a trusting and faithful relationship. Yet, the speaker claims that in swearing these oaths, he has “enlightened thee gave eyes to blindness,” suggesting that his declarations have not helped his lover see the truth but have instead obscured it. The metaphor of giving eyes to blindness points to the speaker’s role in clouding the lover’s vision, either by encouraging them to believe falsehoods or to ignore the truth. The phrase “made them swear against the thing they see” suggests that the lover’s own perception has been distorted by these false oaths, leading them to contradict the reality they face.
Lines 13–14
“For I have sworn thee fair; more perjured eye,
To swear against the truth so foul a lie.”
The final couplet delivers a sharp and biting conclusion to the sonnet. The speaker admits that he has sworn his lover is “fair,” an idealized and beautiful vision, yet this judgment is “more perjured” than any of his earlier vows. The idea of the “perjured eye” reveals the speaker’s self-awareness of the dishonesty in his perceptions and judgments. To swear that his lover is “fair” is to commit an even greater lie, a lie that is directly at odds with the truth. The final line emphasizes the extent of the betrayal: the speaker not only swears falsely but also does so against the evident truth—the truth that his lover is neither as kind nor as faithful as he once believed.
Conclusion
Shakespeare’s Sonnet 152 is a striking meditation on love, self-deception, and the complexity of human relationships. Through the speaker’s reflections on his broken oaths and the contradictions within his own feelings, the poem explores the tension between love and betrayal. The speaker’s internal conflict is evident in his shifting blame and his ultimate admission of guilt. His reflections reveal how love can be both an avenue for deep commitment and an excuse for profound dishonesty. Shakespeare, as always, presents a nuanced understanding of human nature, one that is marked by imperfections, contradictions, and a relentless search for truth amidst the chaos of emotion.
