# CXXXVI explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The speaker pleads with the Dark Lady to accept him despite her conscience, arguing that his name 'Will' is common and can be admitted among many. He asks to be counted as nothing if it pleases her, so long as she loves his name and thereby loves him.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Desire

The speaker's plea is driven by love and desire, seeking physical and emotional union despite moral objections.

### Truth and Deception

The speaker urges the lady to deceive her own soul by swearing he was her 'Will,' highlighting the tension between truth and self-deception in love.

## Character check-ins

### William Shakespeare

The speaker who identifies himself by the name 'Will' and argues for acceptance.

### Love

Personified as the force driving the speaker's suit.

## Key lines

> If thy soul check thee that I come so near, Swear to thy blind soul that I was thy 'Will,'

If your conscience rebukes you for letting me get so close, lie to your oblivious soul by claiming I am your 'Will.'

_The speaker advises the lady to deceive her own conscience by using his name as a justification._

> Make but my name thy love, and love that still, And then thou lovest me, for my name is 'Will.'

Just love my name and keep loving it, and then you will be loving me, because my name is 'Will.'

_The speaker concludes that if she loves his name, she effectively loves him, since his identity is tied to that name._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters/cxxxvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_28_se/chapters