'Sonnet 43 - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,—I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!—and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sonnet 43 - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight For the ends of being and ideal grace. I love thee to the level of every day's Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. I love thee freely, as men strive for right; I love thee purely, as they turn from praise. I love thee with the passion put to use In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith. I love thee with a love I seemed to lose With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath, Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose, I shall but love thee better after death.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43, also known as "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways," is one of the most famous love poems in the English language. Written in 1850 and published in 1851, the poem is a passionate declaration of love from the poet to her husband, the famous Victorian poet Robert Browning. The poem has been the subject of countless interpretations and analyses, and its enduring popularity is a testament to its power and beauty.
Background
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born in 1806 in Durham, England. She was the eldest of twelve children and was educated at home by her father, who was a wealthy landowner and a staunch abolitionist. Barrett Browning began writing poetry at an early age and published her first collection, The Battle of Marathon, when she was only fourteen years old. Despite suffering from a chronic respiratory illness, she continued to write and published several more volumes of poetry in the years that followed.
In 1844, Barrett Browning became acquainted with Robert Browning, a fellow poet who had admired her work for some time. The two began a correspondence that quickly blossomed into a romantic relationship. In 1846, they eloped and moved to Italy, where they lived until Elizabeth's death in 1861.
During her lifetime, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Victorian era. Her work was admired for its emotional intensity, its political and social commentary, and its innovative use of form and language. Today, she is best known for her love poetry, particularly Sonnet 43.
Analysis
Sonnet 43 is a classic example of the Petrarchan sonnet, a form that was popularized in the 14th century by the Italian poet Petrarch. The sonnet is divided into two parts: an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The octave presents a problem or question, while the sestet offers a resolution or answer.
In Sonnet 43, the problem is posed in the first line: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." The poet then proceeds to enumerate the ways in which she loves her husband, using a series of metaphors and comparisons to convey the depth and intensity of her feelings.
The first quatrain (four lines) establishes the scope of the poet's love: "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight / For the ends of being and ideal grace." This is a lofty and abstract statement of love, suggesting that the poet's love transcends ordinary human experience and reaches towards the divine.
The second quatrain (lines 5-8) brings the poet's love down to earth, emphasizing its practical and everyday nature: "I love thee to the level of every day's / Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light. / I love thee freely, as men strive for right; / I love thee purely, as they turn from praise." Here, the poet suggests that her love is not only grand and transcendent, but also humble and practical, rooted in the mundane realities of daily life.
The final sestet (lines 9-14) brings together the themes of the poem, offering a resolution to the problem posed in the first line. The poet declares that she loves her husband with "the passion put to use / In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith," suggesting that her love is informed by her past experiences and her deep-seated beliefs. She also emphasizes the physical and emotional manifestations of her love: "I love thee with the breath, / Smiles, tears, of all my life," underscoring the all-encompassing nature of her feelings.
The final line of the poem, "I shall but love thee better after death," is both a declaration of the poet's steadfast devotion and a tribute to the eternal nature of love.
Interpretation
Sonnet 43 has been interpreted in a variety of ways over the years. Some critics see it as a straightforward expression of romantic love, while others view it as a commentary on the nature of love itself.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it represents a rejection of the traditional ideals of Romantic love. Rather than portraying love as an all-consuming passion that leads to self-destruction, as many Romantic poets did, Barrett Browning presents love as a more measured and practical emotion, rooted in the realities of daily life.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it represents a rejection of societal norms and expectations. By declaring her love so openly and passionately, Barrett Browning challenges the Victorian ideal of the demure, self-effacing woman. She also asserts her autonomy and agency as a female poet, in a time when women were often dismissed as inferior or frivolous.
Ultimately, however, the power of Sonnet 43 lies in its timeless and universal message of love. Whether read as a declaration of romantic love, a commentary on societal norms, or simply as a beautiful expression of human emotion, the poem resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds.
Conclusion
Sonnet 43 - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways - is a masterpiece of English poetry. Its eloquent language, its vivid imagery, and its powerful emotions have made it one of the most beloved and enduring love poems in the English language. As a declaration of love, it is both personal and universal, expressing the depth and complexity of human emotion in a way that speaks to readers across the ages. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's legacy as one of the greatest poets of the Victorian era is secure, and Sonnet 43 stands as a testament to her genius and her enduring influence.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Sonnet 43 - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways, is a classic poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This poem is one of the most famous love poems in the English language and has been widely studied and analyzed by scholars and poetry enthusiasts alike. In this article, we will explore the various themes, literary devices, and meanings behind this beautiful poem.
The poem is a sonnet, which is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. Sonnet 43 follows the traditional rhyme scheme of an Italian sonnet, which is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which means that each line has ten syllables and follows a pattern of unstressed and stressed syllables. This gives the poem a rhythmic and musical quality, which adds to its beauty.
The poem begins with the famous line, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem and establishes the central theme of love. The speaker is addressing her lover and expressing her love for him. She then goes on to list the various ways in which she loves him.
The first way in which the speaker loves her lover is with "the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach." This line suggests that the speaker's love is limitless and knows no bounds. She loves her lover with all her heart and soul, and her love is as vast as the universe.
The second way in which the speaker loves her lover is with "the passion put to use in my old griefs." This line suggests that the speaker's love is born out of her past experiences of pain and suffering. Her love is not just a feeling but an active force that helps her overcome her past and move forward.
The third way in which the speaker loves her lover is with "the love I seemed to lose with my lost saints." This line suggests that the speaker's love is not just for her lover but for all the people she has loved and lost in her life. Her love is a continuation of the love she had for those who are no longer with her.
The fourth way in which the speaker loves her lover is with "the breath, smiles, tears, of all my life." This line suggests that the speaker's love is not just for the present but for the past and the future. Her love encompasses all the moments of her life, both happy and sad.
The fifth and final way in which the speaker loves her lover is with "the faith that every day's most quiet need." This line suggests that the speaker's love is not just for the big moments in life but for the small and mundane ones as well. Her love is a constant presence in her life, and she is always there for her lover, no matter what.
Throughout the poem, the speaker uses various literary devices to convey her message of love. One of the most prominent devices is repetition. The phrase "I love thee" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's love for her lover. The repetition also gives the poem a musical quality, which adds to its beauty.
Another literary device used in the poem is imagery. The speaker uses vivid and sensory language to describe her love. For example, she describes her love as "the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach," which creates a powerful image of the vastness of her love. She also uses imagery to describe her past experiences of pain and suffering, which adds depth and complexity to her love.
The poem also explores the theme of spirituality. The speaker's love is not just a physical or emotional feeling but a spiritual one as well. She describes her love as a "faith" that is always there for her lover, no matter what. This suggests that her love is not just for this life but for the afterlife as well.
In conclusion, Sonnet 43 - How do I love thee? Let me count the ways, is a beautiful and timeless poem that explores the theme of love in all its complexity. The poem uses various literary devices such as repetition and imagery to convey the speaker's message of love. The poem also explores the themes of spirituality and the continuity of love beyond this life. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43 is a masterpiece of English literature and will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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