Relationship Between Love And Sonnet 116

In the later sonnets, i.e. Sonnets 127–152 it is believed that Shakespeare is dealing with another relationship, one that is both similar and different from the one he had with the young male. It is similar because, just as with the youth, the relationship fluctuates between love, hate, jealousy and contempt, but perhaps more importantly, is the fact that the poet is dangerously dependent on the woman’s affections, as was the case with his male lover. The poet however, seems to be suffering more in this relationship as his dependency is one which surpasses the boundaries of love and praise, and is heavily reliant on lust. In fact, the poems addressed to the Dark Lady are expressed in a more overtly erotic and physical love than the sonnets addressed to the young man.

Matters become worse, when the speaker finds out that his mistress is accepting additional lovers, as it wreaks havoc on his emotions. At first he is outraged and is convinced that he is deluding himself in many ways. For instance he convinces himself and the reader that the Dark Lady is given such a name not only due to the complexion of her skin, but probably for the lustful tendencies that she causes to arise in him, even against his better judgement. However, in the end, although he tries his best to curb his lust, he admits that he is and remains a slave to the woman.

Thus the way he treats love, lust and relationships with the young man and the dark lady convinces us and warns us against falling in love