Poetry about dishonesty delves into the complex web of deception, deceit, and treachery. The poet weaves tales of false promises, broken trust, and hidden secrets, employing a stark, candid language that strikes to the heart of duplicity.
Such verses often explore the pain of betrayal, the conflict between truth and lies, and the far-reaching consequences of deceit. These poems provoke a profound sense of disillusionment and mistrust, urging the reader to question surface appearances and seek authenticity.
In Part IX, Damian and May enact their long-awaited plans to engage in adultery. Pluto ensures the two are discovered as he restores January’s sight.
Section IX of 'The Merchant's Tale' is the epitome of dishonesty. It witnesses the creation of gaslighting (though only perpetrated by women) as Proserpina's gift of persuasion to women proves to be effective. This is demonstrated through May's outrageous lies which successfully convince January of her innocence. Not only does she convince him that he did not witness what he thought he did, but she also persuades him into believing that she has cured his blindness through implausible and preposterous means. Ultimately, May's dishonesty proves to have no consequences as she returns to her normal life, presumably emboldened by her newfound ability to deceive.
‘A Poison Tree’ presents the consequences of harboring anger, which becomes a poisonous tree wreaking devastation.
Dishonesty pervades the poem, as the speaker hides their anger with false smiles and deceitful wiles. The concealment of emotions drives the narrative’s progression, with the poisoned apple serving as the ultimate manifestation of dishonesty’s deadly power. This theme underscores the harm caused by failing to address conflicts honestly and openly, highlighting moral decay.
Sonnet 151, ‘Love is too young to know what conscience is,’ navigates the complexities of love and lust in the speaker’s relationship.
The sonnet presents the universal, timeless, and morally questionable lustful dishonesty found in romantic relationships. It strikes a relatable note with modern readers evoking their experiences of such betrayal in love. Love is called a "gentle cheater" as the speaker's lover has cheated on him with physical infidelity, and the speaker, due to his lust, continues to sleep with her, betraying himself and his soul or his "nobler part."
‘The Things We Dare Not Tell’ explores humanity’s tendency to suffer alone and in silence, choosing to hide under a mask rather than open up.
At the heart of the poem is a personal and public deception: people wear masks to hide their true, suffering selves. The repeated line, "we are doing...well," embodies the lie individuals tell themselves and others to maintain the appearance they're indeed okay. Such dishonesty is not intended to be malicious, though it is harmful to the person wearing the mask, as it might lead to a denial of their sorrow.
The fields are fair in autumn yet, and the sun's still shining there,
But we bow our heads and we brood and fret, because of the masks we wear;
Or we nod and smile the social while, and we say we're doing well,
But we break our hearts, oh, we break our hearts! for the things we must not tell.
In Part VII of ‘The Merchant’s Tale’, Chaucer delves deep into symbolism as Damian and May make the final arrangements for their affair.
The word 'secretly' features numerous times throughout this section of the poem for good reason. May and Damian develop a secret form of communication by which they plan to begin their affair in January's garden. May delves further into dishonesty as she steals from her husband, cloning his key, as well as presumably manipulating him into taking her to the garden. Despite this chain of dishonesty, Chaucer highlights the moral grayness of these acts as May has been imprisoned within a marriage she does not desire and has been subjugated by an old man.
Sonnet 138, ‘When my love swears that she is made of truth,’ explores the complex dynamics of love, deception, and trust in a relationship.
The sonnet illustrates the dishonesty in a romantic relationship, portraying the interplay of love and deceit. The speaker and his lover paradoxically trust each other's lies to maintain their 'love' despite being aware of the betrayal. Thus, the poem evokes a complex interplay of deception and love often found in hollow romantic relationships, often filled with flattery, shared falsehood, dishonesty, and illusionary comfort.
Part VI of Geoffrey Chaucer’s ‘The Merchant’s Tale’ explores moral values as May and Damian begin their affair.
Throughout the latter half of this poem, the character May exhibits a pattern of dishonesty which begins in this section. This dishonesty is tied to the affair she begins with her husband's squire, Damian. She agrees to keep the letter containing his desires a secret from her husband, lying about needing to go to the bathroom in order to dispose of the letter. Furthermore, she returns a letter to Damian in secret, reciprocating his desires. Damian visits January and is dishonest as he accepts the praise of those around him and fails to tell January about May's impending adultery.
Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘Valentine’ challenges conventional romance with an unexpected gift: an onion conveying honesty and genuine emotion.
The poem subtly hints at the emotion of dishonesty prevalent in relationships reliant solely on superficial expressions of love amidst the consumerist culture of contemporary times. By rejecting conventional symbols, it critiques the disingenuousness of such gestures. Lines like 'I am trying to be truthful' suggest a desire to counteract dishonesty, emphasizing that true intimacy cannot be achieved through shallow displays but rather through genuine emotions and sincere connection.
Dickinson’s ‘A narrow Fellow in the Grass’ captures snakes’ unsettling presence, reflecting fear and human vulnerability amid nature.
The snake's ability to disguise itself and vanish unexpectedly creates a sense of uncertainty akin to dishonesty. The speaker's misconception of the snake as a rope unbraiding hints at its deceptive appearance, suggesting that it can be mistaken for something harmless before revealing its true nature. This deceptive nature of the snake hints at dishonesty, as it can be something that is not what it initially appears to be. Moreover, in Christian mythology, snakes symbolize Satan and his treachery.
Sonnet 142, ‘Love is my sin, and thy dear virtue hate,’ explores the dynamics of desire and morality in the speaker’s relationship.
Like other Shakespearean sonnets, this sonnet delves into the universal dishonesty of romantic relationships, evoking readers' emotions and similar experiences. Love is called "sin" due to immoral transgressions, as the speaker's lady sleeps with her multiple lovers while the speaker lusts after her. The speaker's love for the lady is just like the lady's love for her multiple suitors, i.e., dishonest and lustful.
‘La Belle Dame sans Merci’ by John Keats is an intriguing narrative that explores death, decay, and love with a supernatural aura.
Dishonesty is subtly woven into the narrative through the lady's actions. Despite her apparent confession of love to the knight, she disappears without explanation or warning, condemning the knight to perpetual torment, which hints at her dishonesty. The poem can be interpreted as a cautionary tale about the dangers of misplaced trust, blind obsession, and the deceptive nature of appearances, underscoring the importance of discernment in matters of the heart.
In Part VIII, while May sets her adulterous plans into motion, deities Pluto and Proserpina debate about the nature of women.
While May's character was initially a sweet young woman who was forced into an unwilling marriage, this section sees the extent of her change. May uses dishonesty and manipulation to conceal her true motives and employ her husband's unwitting assistance to attain her desires. She achieves this by lying to her husband, telling him that she cannot abide not eating a pear due to her pregnancy cravings. However, this is to manipulate January into helping her into the pear tree, where she intends to engage in extramarital relations.
‘Porphyria’s Lover,’ opens up with a classic setting of a stormy evening. It is a story of a deranged and lovesick man.
The poem's central action constitutes the dishonest act of Porphyria's lover, wherein he strangulates her when she makes love to him, completely surrendering herself. The deceitful action of the lover evokes unsettling emotions. The readers can feel deceived as the lover tries to justify his actions while seemingly unsure of his explanation. Moreover, he resolves to self-deception by justifying his act to overcome guilt.
‘Poet for Our Times’ by Carol Ann Duffy is a sharp and satirical monologue that exposes the toxic power of tabloid journalism and the way language can be misused for attention.
The speaker proudly admits that the headlines are exaggerated and meant to stir reaction, not share facts. He uses offensive words and twisted stories, not because they are true, but because they get noticed. This dishonesty is treated like talent in his world. Duffy uses this to show how the line between truth and lies can disappear when the goal is attention. It’s not just the words that are dishonest—it’s the way the whole system is built.
I write the headlines for a Daily Paper.
It’s just a knack one's born with all-right-Squire.
You do not have to be an educator,
just bang the words down like they're screaming Fire!
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