'Sonnet 12 - Indeed this very love which is my boast' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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XII
Indeed this very love which is my boast,
And which, when rising up from breast to brow,
Doth crown me with a ruby large enow
To draw men's eyes and prove the inner cost,—
This love even, all my worth, to the uttermost,
I should not love withal, unless that thou
Hadst set me an example, shown me how,
When first thine earnest eyes with mine were crossed,
And love called love. And thus, I cannot speak
Of love even, as a good thing of my own:
Thy soul hath snatched up mine all faint and weak,
And placed it by thee on a golden throne,—
And that I love (O soul, we must be meek!)
Is by thee only, whom I love alone.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Analysis of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 12
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a prominent poet of the Victorian Era, is known for her exceptional poetry that focuses on themes of love, faith, and social justice. Her sonnet, "Indeed this very love which is my boast," is a beautiful expression of the power of love and its ability to transcend time.
This sonnet is one of the forty-four sonnets that form the collection, Sonnets from the Portuguese, which is a sequence of love poems dedicated to Browning's husband, Robert Browning. The title of the collection was chosen to create the illusion that the poems were translations of Portuguese sonnets, but in actuality, they were Browning's own work.
Sonnet 12 is a Petrarchan sonnet, consisting of an octave and a sestet, and follows the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDCDCD. The poem explores the idea that love can transcend even death and time, and that the love that exists between the speaker and her beloved will continue to flourish even after they are gone.
The Octave
The octave of the sonnet begins with the speaker reflecting on the transience of life and how everything is subject to change and decay. She observes that the beauty of the natural world, which is so perfect and awe-inspiring, is subject to the same laws of time as everything else. She says that the "silver current of the Rhine" will continue to flow long after she and her beloved have passed away.
The speaker then goes on to say that the only thing that can withstand the ravages of time is love. She states that even though her own physical beauty will fade, the love that she shares with her beloved will continue to flourish. She claims that their love is a "flower" that will grow and bloom forever, even after their bodies have turned to dust.
The octave is a powerful statement about the power of love and its ability to transcend time. The speaker is aware that everything in life is temporary, including her own physical beauty, but she believes that the love that she shares with her beloved is eternal.
The Sestet
The sestet of the sonnet focuses on the idea that love is not just a feeling, but a force that has the power to transform the world. The speaker claims that their love is not just a thing of beauty, but a "strength in hearts which they themselves not know." She suggests that their love has the power to change the world, to make it a better place, even if they are not aware of the impact that their love is having.
The speaker then goes on to say that their love is not bound by time or space. She claims that their love is not just limited to this life, but that it will continue to exist beyond death. She suggests that their love will be "perfected" in the afterlife and that they will continue to love each other even in the next world.
The sestet is a beautiful exploration of the power of love and its ability to transform the world. The speaker suggests that their love is not just a feeling, but a force that has the power to change the world for the better. She also suggests that their love is not limited by time or space and that it will continue to exist even beyond death.
Interpretation
Sonnet 12 is a beautiful expression of the power of love and its ability to transcend time. The speaker is aware of the transience of life and the fact that everything in the world is subject to change and decay. However, she believes that the love that she shares with her beloved is eternal and will continue to flourish even after they are gone.
The poem is also a commentary on the nature of love itself. The speaker suggests that love is not just a feeling, but a force that has the power to transform the world. She believes that their love has the power to make the world a better place, even if they are not aware of the impact that their love is having.
Additionally, the poem is a commentary on the afterlife. The speaker suggests that their love will continue to exist even in the next world and that it will be "perfected" in the afterlife. This suggests a belief in an afterlife and a belief in the power of love to transcend even death.
Overall, Sonnet 12 is a beautiful and powerful expression of the power of love and its ability to transcend time. The poem explores the transience of life, the nature of love, and the afterlife, and suggests that love is not just a feeling, but a force that has the power to transform the world.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 12 - Indeed this very love which is my boast, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a beautiful expression of love and admiration for the speaker's beloved. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker boasting about her love for her beloved. She says, "Indeed this very love which is my boast, / And which, when rising up from breast to brow, / Doth crown me with a ruby large enow." The speaker is proud of her love and feels that it is a precious gem that adorns her. The use of the word "ruby" is significant as it symbolizes love, passion, and desire.
The second quatrain of the poem describes the beauty of the beloved. The speaker says, "This love hath many shapes; this love doth show / Many a wonderous thing - as heaven, as hell, / Forth from my heart those forms arise and go." The speaker's love for her beloved is not limited to one form or shape. It is a love that can be compared to both heaven and hell, which shows the depth and complexity of her feelings.
In the third quatrain, the speaker talks about the power of her love. She says, "And yet, love knows it is a greater grief / To bear love's wrong than hate's known injury." The speaker believes that the pain of being wronged by someone you love is greater than the pain of being hurt by someone you hate. This is a powerful statement that highlights the intensity of the speaker's love.
The final couplet of the poem brings the focus back to the speaker's beloved. She says, "Lascivious grace, in whom all ill well shows, / Kill me with spites; yet we must not be foes." The speaker acknowledges that her beloved has flaws, but she still loves her despite them. She is willing to endure any pain or hurt caused by her beloved because their love is too strong to be broken.
The structure of the poem is a traditional Shakespearean sonnet, consisting of three quatrains and a final couplet. The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, which is also typical of a Shakespearean sonnet. The use of iambic pentameter, where each line has ten syllables with a stress on every second syllable, adds to the poem's musicality and rhythm.
The poem's themes are love, admiration, and forgiveness. The speaker's love for her beloved is all-encompassing and knows no bounds. She admires her beloved's beauty and is willing to forgive her flaws and shortcomings. The poem also explores the idea that love can be both beautiful and painful, and that the pain of being wronged by someone you love is greater than any other pain.
The poem's literary devices include imagery, symbolism, and metaphors. The use of the word "ruby" as a symbol for love is an example of symbolism. The comparison of the speaker's love to both heaven and hell is a metaphor that highlights the complexity of her feelings. The use of imagery, such as "rising up from breast to brow," adds to the poem's visual appeal and helps the reader to imagine the speaker's emotions.
In conclusion, Sonnet 12 - Indeed this very love which is my boast, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is a beautiful expression of love and admiration. The poem's structure, themes, and literary devices all work together to create a powerful and emotional piece of poetry. The speaker's love for her beloved is all-encompassing and knows no bounds, and her willingness to forgive her beloved's flaws and shortcomings is a testament to the strength of their love. This poem is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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