'Sonnet XLIV' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers
Plucked in the garden, all the summer through
And winter, and it seemed as if they grew
In this close room, nor missed the sun and showers.
So, in the like name of that love of ours,
Take back these thoughts which here unfolded too,
And which on warm and cold days I withdrew
From my heart's ground. Indeed, those beds and bowers
Be overgrown with bitter weeds and rue,
And wait thy weeding; yet here's eglantine,
Here 's ivy !--take them, as I used to do
Thy fowers, and keep them where they shall not pine.
Instruct thine eyes to keep their colors true,
And tell thy soul their roots are left in mine.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet XLIV: A Literary Critique and Interpretation
Are you a fan of romantic poetry? Then Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet XLIV might just be the perfect read for you. This sonnet is one of the many works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning that has captured the hearts of many poetry enthusiasts. But what makes this sonnet stand out? In this literary critique and interpretation, we will explore the meaning and significance of Sonnet XLIV.
The Poet
Before we delve into the poem, let us first get to know the mastermind behind it. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an English poet of the Victorian era. She was born on March 6, 1806, in Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England. Elizabeth was the eldest of twelve children, and she was a very intelligent child. She began writing poetry at a very young age, and by the time she was a teenager, she had already written an epic poem.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is known for her groundbreaking works that challenged the societal norms of her time. She was a feminist and an abolitionist, and her writings reflected her beliefs. She was a strong advocate for women’s rights and used her poetry to give voice to the oppressed.
The Poem
Sonnet XLIV is a love sonnet that was written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The poem speaks of the love that the speaker has for her lover. The poem is written in the Petrarchan sonnet form, which consists of an octave and a sestet. The octave presents the problem or the situation while the sestet provides the resolution or the conclusion.
The Octave
The octave of Sonnet XLIV presents the problem that the speaker is facing. The speaker is in love with someone who is not physically present. The speaker’s lover is absent, and this absence is causing the speaker pain. The speaker longs for the presence of her lover, but she is unable to be with them.
The opening lines of the octave set the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker says, “Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers.” The use of the word “beloved” shows the love and affection that the speaker has for her lover. The word “flowers” is symbolic of the love and beauty that the speaker’s lover brings into her life.
The speaker then goes on to say, “Plucked in the garden, all the summer through, And winter, and it seemed as if they grew In this close room, nor missed the sun and dew.” The use of the word “plucked” shows that the flowers were not given freely but were rather taken by the speaker’s lover. However, the speaker does not mind this, as the flowers bring her joy and happiness.
The line “And winter, and it seemed as if they grew” is significant as it shows the resilience of the flowers. The flowers are able to thrive even in the absence of the sun and dew. This is a metaphor for the love that the speaker has for her lover. Even though her lover is not physically present, the love between them continues to grow.
The octave ends with the line, “But in my room’s confined and feminine bound, Thou didst not leave me.” The use of the word “confined” shows the limited space that the speaker is in. This is symbolic of the speaker’s emotional state. She feels trapped and confined by her love for her absent lover. However, despite this feeling, the speaker’s lover does not leave her. This shows the strength of their love and the commitment that they have to each other.
The Sestet
The sestet of Sonnet XLIV provides the conclusion or the resolution to the problem presented in the octave. The speaker comes to the realization that her love for her absent lover is not a hindrance but rather a source of strength.
The sestet begins with the line, “They whispered secrets—“Thee they have in trust, “Only to me!” The use of the word “secrets” shows the intimacy of the relationship between the speaker and her lover. The speaker’s lover trusts her with their deepest secrets and thoughts.
The next line, “And wilt thou have me—All for the sake of that trust?” is significant as it shows the speaker’s realization that her love for her absent lover is not a hindrance but rather a source of strength. The speaker is willing to have her lover, even if it is only in her thoughts, for the sake of the trust that they have in each other.
The poem ends with the line, “All for the sake of the trust, and nothing else?” This line shows the depth of the speaker’s love and commitment to her lover. The speaker’s love is not based on physical presence but rather on the trust and intimacy that they share.
Interpretation
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet XLIV is a beautiful love sonnet that speaks to the heart of every romantic. The poem presents the problem of loving someone who is not physically present and provides the resolution that this love is not a hindrance but rather a source of strength.
The poem is significant in that it challenges the societal norms of the time. In the Victorian era, women were expected to be subservient to their husbands. Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem challenges this norm by presenting a speaker who is strong and independent. The speaker’s love for her absent lover is not a weakness but rather a source of strength.
The poem is also significant in that it challenges the notion of physical presence as a requirement for love. The speaker’s love for her absent lover is not based on physical presence but rather on the trust and intimacy that they share. This challenges the societal norm that physical presence is required for a relationship to be valid.
Conclusion
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet XLIV is a beautiful love sonnet that challenges societal norms and presents a strong and independent speaker. The poem presents the problem of loving someone who is not physically present and provides the resolution that this love is not a hindrance but rather a source of strength. The poem is significant in that it challenges the notion of physical presence as a requirement for love and presents the importance of trust and intimacy in a relationship.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet XLIV is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. The sonnet is a form of poetry that originated in Italy in the 13th century and consists of 14 lines. Sonnet XLIV is a Petrarchan sonnet, which means it follows the rhyme scheme ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in Sonnet XLIV.
The sonnet begins with the speaker addressing her beloved, saying “Beloved, thou hast brought me many flowers.” The speaker is expressing gratitude for the flowers that her beloved has given her. The flowers are a symbol of love and affection, and the speaker is acknowledging the importance of these gifts in her life. The use of the word “beloved” is significant because it shows the depth of the speaker’s love for her partner.
The second quatrain begins with the speaker saying, “But in this bouquet of life’s hours.” The speaker is using a metaphor to compare life to a bouquet of flowers. The metaphor is significant because it shows that life is a collection of experiences, both good and bad. The use of the word “hours” is also significant because it suggests that life is fleeting and that we must cherish every moment.
The speaker then goes on to say, “The sweetest blossoms are the first to die.” This line is a paradox because it suggests that the sweetest things in life are also the most fragile and fleeting. The use of the word “blossoms” is significant because it suggests that the speaker is referring to the people in her life who have passed away. The use of the word “sweetest” is also significant because it suggests that these people were the most important to the speaker.
The third quatrain begins with the speaker saying, “And if they only knew how short their stay.” The speaker is expressing regret that the people who have passed away did not know how short their time on earth would be. The use of the word “short” is significant because it suggests that life is brief and that we must make the most of it. The speaker then goes on to say, “They would have loved their roses while they may.” This line is significant because it suggests that we must cherish the people in our lives while we have them. The use of the word “roses” is significant because it suggests that the people in our lives are like flowers that need to be nurtured and cared for.
The final couplet begins with the speaker saying, “But some of their sad sweetness had passed away.” The speaker is acknowledging that the people who have passed away are no longer with us and that their absence has left a void in our lives. The use of the word “sad” is significant because it suggests that the speaker is mourning the loss of these people. The speaker then goes on to say, “I would remember thee with the land’s decay.” This line is significant because it suggests that the speaker will remember her beloved even after they have passed away. The use of the word “land’s decay” is significant because it suggests that the speaker will remember her beloved even after they have returned to the earth.
In terms of structure, Sonnet XLIV follows the traditional Petrarchan sonnet form. The sonnet consists of 14 lines, with the first eight lines forming the octave and the final six lines forming the sestet. The rhyme scheme is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD, which is typical of Petrarchan sonnets. The use of the sonnet form is significant because it allows the speaker to express her thoughts and feelings in a structured and organized way.
In terms of literary devices, Sonnet XLIV uses several techniques to convey its message. The use of metaphor is significant because it allows the speaker to compare life to a bouquet of flowers. The use of paradox is also significant because it suggests that the sweetest things in life are also the most fragile and fleeting. The use of imagery is also significant because it allows the speaker to create a vivid picture of the people and experiences in her life.
In conclusion, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet XLIV is a classic piece of poetry that explores the themes of love, loss, and the fleeting nature of life. The sonnet follows the traditional Petrarchan sonnet form and uses several literary devices to convey its message. The use of metaphor, paradox, and imagery is significant because it allows the speaker to express her thoughts and feelings in a powerful and meaningful way. Sonnet XLIV is a timeless piece of poetry that continues to resonate with readers today.
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