# Sonnet LXXXVIII explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

The poet declares that even if the beloved chooses to scorn him, he will side against himself and defend the beloved's virtue, concealing his own faults to ensure the beloved gains glory. This self-sacrificing love turns the beloved's injuries into double advantage for the poet, who belongs so completely to the beloved that he will bear all wrong for the beloved's sake.

## Themes in this chapter

### Truth and Deception

The poet deliberately conceals his own faults and tells a story of his attainder to make the beloved appear virtuous, using deception to serve a higher truth of love.

### Love and Desire

The poet's love is so absolute that he willingly bears all wrong and turns injuries into advantages for the beloved, exemplifying selfless devotion.

## Character check-ins

### William Shakespeare

The poet-speaker who vows to fight against himself to prove the beloved virtuous.

### Love

Personified as the force that bends all loving thoughts on the beloved, driving the poet's self-sacrifice.

## Key lines

> When thou shalt be disposed to set me light And place my merit in the eye of scorn, Upon thy side against myself I’ll fight And prove thee virtuous, though thou art forsworn.

If you decide to belittle me and treat my worth with contempt, I will take your side and argue against myself, defending your virtue even if you have broken your promises.

_The poet's paradoxical loyalty to the beloved despite being scorned._

> Such is my love, to thee I so belong, That for thy right myself will bear all wrong.

My love for you is so complete that I belong to you entirely, and for your sake I will endure any injustice against myself.

_The concluding couplet encapsulates the poet's total self-sacrifice for the beloved's honor._

## Links

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