In sonnets 78,80,81, and 88 there are various complaints with or hypothetical situations of different situations of betrayal. I say "or hypothetical situations" because to me it almost seems like some of these betrayals haven't happened but that Shakespeare is brooding about the possibility of them happening.
In sonnet 78 it seems like Shakespeare is almost jealous or at least wanting more attention from the object. After explaining that the object is a gifted muse to many, Shakespeare adds, "Yet be most proud of that which I compile, whose influence is thine and born of thee." Shakespeare explains that, "In others' works thou dost but mend the style" meaning to me that Shakespeare wants this person to spend more time with him than others.
In sonnet 80 the "betrayal" is a little more personal. There is talk of one specific poet that seems to admire the object as well, and that makes Shakespeare discouraged; "O, how i faint when i of you do write, knowing a better spirit doth use your name." Shakespeare goes on to compare the object to a vast ocean with himself and this other poet as boats on the water "Your shallowest help will hold me up afloat whilst he upon your soundless deep doth ride." Then at the end Shakespeare examines the possibility that the object likes this other poet more, "Then if he thrive and i be cast away, the worst was this: my love was my decay."
Sonnet 81 is more of a hypothetical betrayal, Shakespeare is almost guilting the object into something. Shakespeare is trying to show the object he has such dedication to him that, "I shall live your epitaph to make". He goes on to tell the object that his memory will live on in his poetry forever and how he will live in the "breaths of men."
I don't really understand whats going on in sonnet 88, at first i thought Shakespeare was going through a scenario that the object kind of shunned Shakespeare, but then later on he talks of helping the object somehow and making himself feel better.??
Alex