'Sonnet 13 - And wilt thou have me fashion into speech' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Sonnets from the Portuguese1850XIIIAnd wilt thou have me fashion into speech
The love I bear thee, finding words enough,
And hold the torch out, while the winds are rough,
Between our faces, to cast light on each?-
I drop it at thy feet. I cannot teach
My hand to hold my spirit so far off
From myself-me-that I should bring thee proof
In words, of love hid in me out of reach.
Nay, let the silence of my womanhood
Commend my woman-love to thy belief,-
Seeing that I stand unwon, however wooed,
And rend the garment of my life, in brief,
By a most dauntless, voiceless fortitude,
Lest one touch of this heart convey its grief

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 13 - And wilt thou have me fashion into speech by Elizabeth Barrett Browning: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 13, "And wilt thou have me fashion into speech," is a love poem that expresses the speaker's feelings of devotion towards her beloved. The poem is written in the form of a sonnet, which is a fourteen-line poem that follows a specific rhyme scheme and structure. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will examine the themes, imagery, and language used in Sonnet 13 to gain a deeper understanding of the poem's meaning and significance.

Themes

The theme of love is the most prominent in Sonnet 13. The speaker is deeply in love with her beloved and wants to express her feelings through words. The poem shows the power of language in conveying emotions and feelings, as the speaker seeks to "fashion into speech" the depth of her love. Through the use of imagery and language, the poem also explores the idea of time and the fleeting nature of love. The speaker is aware that her love may not last forever and seeks to capture it in words before it fades away.

Another theme that emerges in the poem is the idea of the artist as a creator. The speaker compares herself to a sculptor who must "fashion" her words into a form that accurately captures the beauty of her emotions. This idea of creation and artistry is also present in the language used in the poem, which is rich in metaphors and imagery.

Imagery

The imagery used in Sonnet 13 is highly evocative and contributes to the overall mood and tone of the poem. The first four lines use the metaphor of music to describe the speaker's love. She says that her love is like "a lute," and that her heart is "full of music." This metaphor creates a sense of harmony and beauty, as the speaker's love is compared to a musical instrument that produces a melodious sound.

The next four lines of the poem use the metaphor of a sculptor to describe the speaker's desire to "fashion" her words into a form that accurately captures the beauty of her love. She says that she wants to "chisel" her words "in pure gold" and "set them forth." This metaphor emphasizes the idea of creation and artistry, as the speaker compares herself to a sculptor who must carefully shape and mold her words into a work of art.

The final six lines of the poem use the metaphor of time to convey the fleeting nature of love. The speaker acknowledges that her love may not last forever, and she wants to capture it in words before it fades away. She says that her love is like a "golden clime" that may be "lost ere evening." This metaphor creates a sense of urgency and impermanence, as the speaker recognizes that her love may not endure.

Language

The language used in Sonnet 13 is rich and poetic, with a strong emphasis on metaphor and imagery. The poem uses a variety of poetic devices, including alliteration, repetition, and enjambment, to create a sense of musicality and rhythm. The first four lines use alliteration to emphasize the musical quality of the speaker's love. The repetition of the word "music" also serves to reinforce this idea.

The poem also uses enjambment to create a sense of continuity and fluidity between the lines. For example, lines 5 and 6 are joined together by the word "but," which creates a sense of contrast between the speaker's desire to express her love and her inability to do so. This contrast is further emphasized by the repetition of the word "not" in lines 5 and 7.

The final six lines of the poem use language that is highly evocative and poetic. The speaker describes her love as a "golden clime" that may be "lost ere evening." This language creates a sense of beauty and impermanence, as the speaker recognizes that her love may not endure. The use of the word "clime" is also significant, as it suggests a place or region that is associated with warmth and beauty.

Interpretation

Sonnet 13 is a deeply emotional poem that expresses the speaker's feelings of love and devotion towards her beloved. The poem uses a range of metaphors and imagery to create a sense of beauty and harmony, while also acknowledging the impermanence of love. The speaker wants to capture the beauty of her emotions in words, but she is aware that her love may not last forever.

The poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the power of language to convey emotions and feelings. The speaker recognizes that words have the ability to capture the beauty of her love, but she also knows that language has its limits. This idea is reflected in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker acknowledges that her love may be "lost ere evening." The poem suggests that while language can capture the beauty of love, it may not be able to preserve it forever.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Sonnet 13 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a beautiful and evocative love poem that explores the themes of love, creation, and time. The poem uses a range of poetic devices, including metaphor, imagery, and language, to create a sense of harmony and beauty, while also acknowledging the impermanence of love. The poem can be interpreted as a meditation on the power of language to convey emotions and feelings, and as a recognition of the limitations of language in capturing the fleeting nature of love. Overall, Sonnet 13 is a powerful and moving expression of love that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s sonnet 13, “And wilt thou have me fashion into speech,” is a beautiful and intricate piece of poetry that explores the power of language and the complexities of love. In this 14-line poem, Browning uses a variety of literary devices and techniques to convey her message, creating a work that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating.

The poem begins with a rhetorical question, “And wilt thou have me fashion into speech,” which immediately draws the reader in and sets the tone for the rest of the piece. The speaker is addressing her lover, asking if he wants her to express her feelings in words. This question is significant because it highlights the tension between the power of language and the limitations of words. The speaker is aware that language can never fully capture the depth and complexity of her emotions, yet she is willing to try.

The first quatrain of the poem continues this theme, with the speaker acknowledging the inadequacy of words to express her love. She says, “The love I bear thee, finding words enough, / Is not to make thee know they are not such / As these I breathe.” Here, the speaker is saying that even though she can find words to express her love, those words are not enough to convey the true depth of her feelings. This is a common theme in love poetry, but Browning’s use of language is particularly powerful. The phrase “Is not to make thee know they are not such” is a subtle way of saying that words cannot fully capture the essence of love.

The second quatrain of the poem shifts focus slightly, with the speaker asking her lover to imagine what it would be like if she could express her love in words. She says, “Their full, deep flow to thee alone / The heart’s bright tide, and life’s unbounded sea!” Here, the speaker is using vivid imagery to convey the intensity of her emotions. The phrase “heart’s bright tide” is particularly striking, as it suggests a powerful force that cannot be contained. The use of the word “unbounded” further emphasizes this idea, suggesting that the speaker’s love is limitless and cannot be confined to words.

The third quatrain of the poem takes a more introspective turn, with the speaker questioning her own ability to express her emotions. She says, “Yet, would I have my heart thy heart impress, / With thoughts of thee, and so my words express / The love that dares not speak its name.” Here, the speaker is acknowledging that her love is so intense that it is difficult to put into words. However, she is also saying that she wants her lover to understand the depth of her feelings, even if she cannot fully express them.

The final couplet of the poem brings everything together, with the speaker saying, “But since my soul, whose child love is, / Takes limbs of flesh, and else could nothing do, / And since thy worth, O, let it not disgrace, / A poor, unlearned, but loving heart to woo.” Here, the speaker is saying that even though language is inadequate to express her love, she will still try to use it to convey her feelings. She is also acknowledging that her love is not based on material possessions or social status, but on the purity of her heart.

Overall, Browning’s sonnet 13 is a masterful exploration of the power of language and the complexities of love. Through her use of vivid imagery, rhetorical questions, and subtle wordplay, she creates a work that is both emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of love, and a reminder that even though words may be inadequate to express our deepest emotions, we should still try to use them to convey our feelings to those we love.

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