'Adequacy' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Now, by the verdure on thy thousand hills,
Beloved England, doth the earth appear
Quite good enough for men to overbear
The will of God in, with rebellious wills !
We cannot say the morning-sun fulfils
Ingloriously its course, nor that the clear
Strong stars without significance insphere
Our habitation: we, meantime, our ills
Heap up against this good and lift a cry
Against this work-day world, this ill-spread feast,
As if ourselves were better certainly
Than what we come to. Maker and High Priest,
I ask thee not my joys to multiply,--
Only to make me worthier of the least.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Adequacy by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Critique
Have you ever read a poem that just completely transports you to another world? A poem that makes you feel like the writer knows your deepest thoughts and feelings? That's exactly how I felt when I read Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Adequacy". Let's dive into this masterpiece and explore the themes and meanings behind it.
Background
Before we analyze the poem itself, let's learn a little bit about the writer. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a British poet who lived from 1806-1861. She was known for her romantic poetry and was one of the most famous poets of the Victorian era. "Adequacy" was part of her collection entitled "Sonnets from the Portuguese", which was a sequence of love sonnets that she wrote for her husband, Robert Browning.
Now that we have a little bit of context, let's dive into the poem.
Analysis
The poem begins with the speaker acknowledging that she is not a perfect woman. She states, "I am not worthy of thee!—nay, / Heav'n keep thy head from such a rest!" This sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as the speaker is expressing her own feelings of inadequacy in comparison to her lover.
The second stanza is where the speaker begins to question her worthiness in a greater sense. She states, "I am not worthy of the love / Which looks for aught beyond itself." The speaker is essentially saying that she is not worthy of a love that expects anything more from her than just being herself. This is a powerful statement, as it speaks to the idea that love should not be conditional.
The third stanza is where the speaker begins to question the very nature of love itself. She asks, "Is love so light, sweet Maurice, / That it may change with every breath?" Here, the speaker is addressing her lover (Maurice) and questioning whether his love for her can be so easily swayed. This is a common fear in relationships, as we often worry that the love someone has for us can be taken away just as easily as it was given.
The fourth stanza is where the speaker begins to come to terms with her own feelings of inadequacy. She states, "And yet I love thee to the depth / And breadth and height my soul can reach." This is a powerful statement, as the speaker is essentially saying that even though she may not feel worthy of her lover's love, she still loves him with everything she has.
The fifth stanza is where the speaker begins to question the nature of love again. She asks, "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!" Here, the speaker is questioning whether the love she has for her lover is similar to the love she has for a higher power (her lost saints). This is an interesting comparison, as it speaks to the idea that love can be a spiritual experience.
The sixth stanza is where the speaker begins to acknowledge the power of love. She states, "And, if God choose, / I shall but love thee better after death." This is a powerful statement, as it speaks to the idea that even death cannot put an end to the love that exists between two people.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? At its core, "Adequacy" is a poem about love and the feelings of inadequacy that often come with it. The speaker is expressing her own fears and doubts about whether she is truly worthy of her lover's love. However, despite these feelings, she still loves him with everything she has.
One of the most interesting aspects of the poem is the way that the speaker questions the nature of love itself. She asks whether love can be so easily swayed, and whether it is similar to the love we have for a higher power. These are important questions, as they speak to the complexity of love and the different ways that it can manifest itself.
Another important theme in the poem is the idea of unconditional love. The speaker acknowledges that she is not worthy of a love that expects anything more from her than just being herself. This is a powerful statement, as it speaks to the idea that love should not be conditional. We should be loved for who we are, not for what we can do or what we can offer.
Finally, the poem speaks to the idea that love is a powerful force that cannot be defeated. Even death cannot put an end to the love that exists between two people. This is a comforting thought, as it suggests that the love we have for someone can transcend even the most difficult of circumstances.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Adequacy" is a powerful poem that explores the complex nature of love and the feelings of inadequacy that often come with it. The speaker questions the very nature of love itself and acknowledges her own fears and doubts. However, despite these feelings, she still loves her partner with everything she has. This is a beautiful and comforting message, as it suggests that even in our moments of greatest doubt, love can still prevail.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Adequacy: A Masterpiece by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, wrote a plethora of poems that continue to inspire and captivate readers to this day. Among her most famous works is the poem "Poetry Adequacy," which is a testament to her mastery of language and her ability to convey complex emotions through her writing.
The poem begins with the speaker questioning the purpose of poetry and its ability to capture the essence of human experience. She asks, "What is poetry? Is it a mosaic / Of coloured stones which curiously are wrought / Into a pattern? Rather glass that's taught / By patient labor any hue to take / And glowing with a sumptuous splendor, make / Beauty a thing of awe; where sunbeams caught, / Transmuted fall in sheafs of rainbows fraught / With storied meaning for religion's sake."
In these lines, the speaker is grappling with the idea of poetry as an art form. She wonders if it is simply a collection of words arranged in a pleasing manner or if it has a deeper meaning that can touch the soul. She compares poetry to a mosaic, which is made up of small pieces that come together to form a larger picture. She also compares it to glass, which can be molded and shaped into any form and can reflect light in a myriad of ways.
The speaker then goes on to describe the power of poetry to evoke emotions and stir the imagination. She says, "Or is it like the ocean, vast and wide, / Where many rivers meet, and where the tide / With endless ebb and flow doth evermore / The same unchanging, yet forevermore / Changed, and the hidden parts are seen no more?"
Here, the speaker is using the metaphor of the ocean to describe the depth and breadth of poetry. She suggests that poetry is like the ocean, vast and wide, where many rivers meet. Just as the ocean is constantly changing with the ebb and flow of the tide, poetry is also ever-changing and can be interpreted in many different ways. The hidden parts of poetry, like the hidden depths of the ocean, are not always visible or easily understood.
The speaker then goes on to describe the process of creating poetry. She says, "Or is it like the cunning alchemist / Who, from his pungent crucible hath missed / The last elixir,--still prepared to try, / Because to fail were less than ecstasy!"
In these lines, the speaker is comparing the poet to an alchemist, someone who is constantly searching for the perfect formula to create something magical. She suggests that the poet is always striving to create the perfect poem, even if it means failing many times along the way. The pursuit of perfection is what drives the poet to continue creating, even in the face of failure.
The speaker then concludes the poem by stating, "Thus, poetry is truth in its own essence, / And truth, in its own essence, poetry. / These are the witnesses, and this the test / Of all the silken-sounding words we trust / To tell our love with, or conceal our hate."
In these final lines, the speaker is suggesting that poetry is the purest form of truth. She believes that poetry has the power to convey emotions and ideas in a way that is more honest and authentic than any other form of communication. She suggests that poetry is the ultimate test of the power of language, and that it can be used to express both love and hate.
Overall, "Poetry Adequacy" is a masterful work of poetry that showcases Elizabeth Barrett Browning's skill as a writer. Through her use of metaphor and imagery, she is able to convey complex ideas about the nature of poetry and its ability to capture the essence of human experience. Her words are both beautiful and profound, and they continue to inspire readers to this day.
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