(interesting hook) Sonnet 138 by William Shakespeare describes the relationship of a couple, who many believe to be Shakespeare and his lover, a woman called The Black Lady. Throughout the sonnet the extensive use of imagery makes the reader imagine the sonnet as if it were a play in which the characters are covered in a mask of lies. (Insert clever transition here) Although Sonnet 138 describes the speakers' willingness to settle for false love and wear a mask, Sonnet 138 describes a relationship whose very survival is based on this deception. Sonnet 138 illustrates that through lies the characters hide, which illustrates the importance of being true to oneself and not giving in to mediocrity, and deciding to wear a mask to be like everyone else, which forces a individual to put on a mask and be something. I'm not. Shakespeare uses the device of paronomasia, more commonly known as wordplay, throughout Sonnet 138 to demonstrate the idea of ​​duplicity, and if you analyze these wordplays carefully then you will understand the truth behind the mask. Shakespeare uses the word "lie" as a play on words to try to subtly show the reader what is really going on between him and the Black Lady and to emphasize how comfortable they are with each other's constant lies, so much so it even seems like second nature. “Lie” can mean to deceive or to lie down, which in this case means to lie down, which most likely refers to sex; so by using this play on words the reader now knows that he knew she had been sleeping with another man. With this play on words Shakespeare demonstrates how the male protagonist of this sonnet is at ease with the Black Lady who betrays him, furthermore this perfectly sums up their relationship, in which both individuals are conte... middle of paper... .. line because like clothes the mask covers you and in this case the mask that people wear is a lie. You are hiding who you really are by wearing a mask and essentially becoming another person. In line 12, if you look at this line in more detail, you can see that this line relates to the theme by saying that in this relationship they don't want to be told the truth, just like the person doesn't want to be exposed you really see who they are, and it's the inability to take off your mask that makes you mediocre. The masks that the characters wear help them transform and forget their flaws and not face the things that make you mediocre. (Find a good way to transition to the conclusion) Conclusion: Works Cited “subtle, adj.” OED online. June 2011. Oxford University Press. September 12th 2011 .