E. Browning

Elizabeth Browning

“The most celebrated woman poet of the Victorian era”

Elizabeth Browning was the eldest of eleven children and had a passion for Greek poetry. She grew up in the country and later moved to London where she had a hard time adjusting to her surroundings. Her poetry, at one point, was the only thing to keep her hopes up. Her sonnets were a particular favorite of mine. Here are my take on sonnets 21 and 22

21 “Say over again, and yet once over again,/That thou dost love me.” (lines 1-2)

The theme of this sonnet is doubt and reassurance of love. Throughout this sonnet Browning acknowledges repetition might be viewed as unnecessary as some might see the cuckoo’s song as unnecessary, but reassurance of love is an important to a relationships health as the cuckoo’s song is to announcing the coming of Spring. Despite the love she feels Browning is mired in doubt as well:

“ Beloved I, amid the darkness greeted/ By a doubtful spirit-voice, in that doubts pain,/Cry, ‘Speak once more--though lovest!’” ( line 7-9)

Despite what seems to be a focus on the spoken word, Browning ends her plea with her deepest desire, for her love to love her but “only minding, Dear,/To love me also in silence with thy soul.” (lines 13-14)

22 Browning begins this sonnet with the image of the souls of her and her love’s souls rising higher and higher into heaven after death, but despite the image the poem does not convey a desire to love him until the end of time while in heaven. Her wish is to remain on earth..she asks

“---what bitter wrong/Can the earth do to us, that we should not long/Be here contented? Think! In mounting higher,/The angels would press on us and spire/ To drop some golden orb of perfect song/Into our deep, dear silence.” (lines 4-9)

She finds beauty in the living in an unfit, contrary world that essentially leaves their “pure spirits” alone. Essentially, she finds their love beautiful by comparison. A love compared to the outside world is easier to cherish and feels more special and beautiful A love compared to the beauty of heaven and angels would be almost inadequate or impossible to compare.