“Sonnet 129” by William Shakespeare (1609)

The sonnet that comes before “Sonnet 130” deals with lust and sexual desire and adds another layer to the depiction of the mistress in “Sonnet 130.” In “Sonnet 129,” the speaker presents sexual desire similar to how he presents the mistress: It’s not ostensibly flattering. The speaker calls sexual feelings “perjured, murd’rous, bloody, full of blame, / Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust” (Lines 3-4). Put in conversation with “Sonnet 130,” “Sonnet 129” suggests that the speaker describes his mistress in such a coarse manner because sexual feelings, to him, aren’t beautiful but uncouth. Thus, the speaker projects his nefarious perception of sex onto the mistress in “Sonnet 130.” He detaches her from purity and innocence and makes her unpleasant and disquieting.

“Sonnet 138” by William Shakespeare (1609)

In “Sonnet 130,” the speaker claims to be on the side of truth. He doesn’t want to subject his mistress to “false compare” (Line 14) and distort her genuine beauty. However, in “Sonnet 138,” the idea of truth grows messy. The speaker states, “When my love swears that she is made of truth, / I do believe her, though I know she lies” (Lines 1-2).