'Sonnet 35 - If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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XXXV
If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange
And be all to me? Shall I never miss
Home-talk and blessing and the common kiss
That comes to each in turn, nor count it strange,
When I look up, to drop on a new range
Of walls and floors, another home than this?
Nay, wilt thou fill that place by me which is
Filled by dead eyes too tender to know change?
That 's hardest. If to conquer love, has tried,
To conquer grief, tries more, as all things prove;
For grief indeed is love and grief beside.
Alas, I have grieved sol am hard to love.
Yet love me—wilt thou? Open thine heart wide,
And fold within the wet wings of thy dove.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 35 - If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is one of the most renowned poets of the Victorian era. Her works are lauded for their intense emotional depth, vivid imagery, and powerful use of language. In this literary criticism, we'll be analyzing one of her most famous works, Sonnet 35 - If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange.
Poem Overview
Sonnet 35 is a love poem that expresses the speaker's desire to leave everything behind for the sake of her lover. The poem begins with the speaker asking her lover if he would reciprocate her love if she were to give up everything for him:
And be all to me?```
The speaker then goes on to list all the things she would give up for her lover - her friends, her family, her home, and even her own soul:
```Shall I never miss
Home-talk and blessing, and the common kiss
That comes to each in turn, nor count it strange,
When I look up, to drop on a new range
Of walls and floors ...```
The poem concludes with the speaker asking her lover the same question she posed at the beginning - whether he would be willing to exchange everything for her love.
## Literary Analysis
Sonnet 35 is a powerful work that showcases Elizabeth Barrett Browning's mastery of language and emotional depth. Let's break down the poem into its various components and analyze each one in depth.
### Form and Structure
Sonnet 35 is structured as a Shakespearean or Elizabethan sonnet, with 14 lines divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. This is a common structure for love poems, and Browning uses it to great effect in this piece.
Each quatrain presents a different idea or concept related to the speaker's desire to leave everything behind for her lover. The first quatrain establishes the central question of the poem - whether the lover would reciprocate the speaker's love if she were to give up everything for him. The second quatrain lists all the things the speaker would give up for her lover, while the third quatrain describes the emotional toll that such a sacrifice would take on her.
The final couplet serves as a conclusion to the poem, with the speaker restating her central question in slightly different words. This structure allows Browning to convey her ideas in a clear and concise manner, while still allowing for emotional depth and complexity.
### Language and Imagery
One of the most striking elements of Sonnet 35 is the vivid imagery that Browning uses to convey the speaker's emotions. Throughout the poem, she uses metaphors and similes to describe the various things the speaker would give up for her lover.
For example, in the second quatrain, she compares the speaker's home to a "range of walls and floors," emphasizing the cold and impersonal nature of the physical space. Similarly, she compares the speaker's friends and family to a "common kiss" that comes to each in turn, emphasizing the mundane and predictable nature of these relationships.
This use of metaphor and simile helps to convey the speaker's sense of loss and sacrifice, while also highlighting the emotional depth of her love for her lover.
### Themes and Motifs
Sonnet 35 is a love poem, and as such, the central theme is love and its many complexities. Browning explores the various facets of love throughout the poem, from the intense emotional connection between lovers to the sacrifices that love often demands.
One motif that appears throughout the poem is the idea of exchange. The speaker repeatedly asks her lover if he would be willing to exchange his love for her sacrifices, emphasizing the idea that love is often a transactional experience.
This motif of exchange highlights the complex nature of love, as well as the give-and-take that is often required for a relationship to succeed. It also emphasizes the speaker's sense of vulnerability and uncertainty, as she is unsure if her lover would be willing to reciprocate her love.
### Historical and Cultural Context
Sonnet 35 was written in the mid-19th century, during the Victorian era. This was a time of great social and cultural change, with shifting attitudes towards love, gender roles, and morality.
Browning was part of a group of poets known as the "Sonnets from the Portuguese," who often wrote about love and romance. This group was known for their emotional depth and their exploration of complex themes such as love, sacrifice, and longing.
Sonnet 35 reflects many of the attitudes and values of the Victorian era, particularly the idea that love was a noble and selfless emotion that often required sacrifice and devotion. This idea of sacrifice and devotion is reflected in the speaker's willingness to give up everything for her lover, even her own soul.
## Interpretation
Sonnet 35 is a powerful work that explores the complex nature of love and sacrifice. The poem highlights the emotional depth of the speaker's love for her lover, while also emphasizing the uncertain nature of love and its many complexities.
At its core, the poem is about the sacrifices that love often demands. The speaker is willing to give up everything for her lover, even her own soul, but she is unsure if her lover would be willing to reciprocate her love.
This uncertainty is a common theme in love poems, as it reflects the vulnerability and risk that is inherent in any romantic relationship. The speaker's willingness to take this risk, however, is a testament to the power of love and the many sacrifices it often demands.
Overall, Sonnet 35 is a powerful work that showcases Elizabeth Barrett Browning's mastery of language and emotional depth. Its themes of love and sacrifice are timeless and universal, and its imagery and language continue to resonate with readers today.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 35 - If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange, written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, is a classic poem that explores the theme of love and sacrifice. This sonnet is part of a larger collection of sonnets called Sonnets from the Portuguese, which was written by Browning during her courtship with her husband, Robert Browning. In this sonnet, Browning expresses her willingness to give up everything for her lover, but she also questions whether her lover would do the same for her.
The poem begins with the speaker asking her lover if he would exchange his love for her if she were to leave everything behind for him. She says, "If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange / And be all to me?" (lines 1-2). The speaker is essentially asking her lover if he would reciprocate her love and give up everything for her as well. She is willing to make this sacrifice for him, but she wants to know if he would do the same for her.
The second quatrain of the poem explores the idea of sacrifice further. The speaker says, "Shall I never miss / Home-talk and blessing, and the common kiss / That comes to each in turn, nor count it strange, / When I look up, to drop on a new range / Of walls and floors, another home than this?" (lines 5-9). Here, the speaker is acknowledging the sacrifices she would have to make if she were to leave everything behind for her lover. She would miss the familiar comforts of home and the everyday interactions with her loved ones. However, she is willing to make these sacrifices for her lover.
The third quatrain of the poem shifts the focus to the speaker's lover. She asks him, "Nay, wilt thou then / At once, dear love, say 'Yes,' and I'll be gone" (lines 10-11). The speaker is essentially asking her lover to make a decision. She wants to know if he is willing to reciprocate her love and make the same sacrifices for her. She is willing to leave everything behind for him, but she needs to know if he feels the same way.
The final couplet of the poem is a powerful conclusion to the speaker's plea. She says, "Or else, when thou hast left me, if I see / Thee wandering, weeping, lost eternally, / I will not creep in thy heart again, / But pluck it forth, and throw it to the dogs" (lines 12-15). Here, the speaker is saying that if her lover does not reciprocate her love and make the same sacrifices for her, she will not continue to love him. She will remove herself from his heart and move on. This is a powerful statement of self-respect and self-love.
Overall, Sonnet 35 - If I leave all for thee, wilt thou exchange is a powerful poem that explores the theme of love and sacrifice. The speaker is willing to give up everything for her lover, but she also questions whether her lover would do the same for her. The poem is a testament to the power of love and the sacrifices we are willing to make for those we love. It is also a reminder that we should never compromise our self-respect and self-love for anyone.
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