This sonnet helped to start more on the theme of modern love from a woman’s point of view. The emphasis is on repeating and strengthening the love of the lecture for someone. It gives the sonnet the universal appeal of no mention of a particular name or gender.
The first line is peculiar because it is a question that is almost interactive. The poet challenged himself to sort out the reasons for her love, define her intense emotions, and define how her love can be expressed. Then the repetitive transformation of the love theme follows. It reminds me of the image of a woman making a counting list with her fingers. It's a very modern 21st century that women can do. But this time it came from another era when most women were expected to stay at home as caretakers without writing love poems.
The second, third, and fourth lines suggest that her love extends all inclusively to the limit, even when she feels that her existence – the divine help of God-grace – is over. The love of her husband Robert will last. Focus on the contrast between using the words ‘soul’, ‘being’, and ‘grace’, which means intangible spirituality when trying to measure her love in rational languages like depth, width, and height. Her love goes beyond natural life and human-made theology. This is an important concept. Readers will find that this is not normal love in the early days of the sonnet. The phrases in the 2nd-4th lines contain phrases spanning themed phrases from the row to the next line. Does she recommend that the simple concept of love flows profoundly to people like that, but does not get in touch with everyday language and speech?
Poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning continues a passionate need to differentiate the various ways affection for her husband is manifested. In line 5, she clearly tells readers day and night that her love meets the daily silence of the quiet moments that occur between two people living together. Her love is unconditional and therefore free. It's a force for the good consciously given because it feels like the right thing to do. She does not thank her for this free love. It is a modest kind of love that is not contaminated by the ego.
The septet starts on line 9. The series looks at the past and compares the new passion she discovers with the old passion of sadness. Elizabeth Barrett Browning has shown many negative attitudes in adult life. She saw only long-standing family, friends, and family who lived almost painfully like a recluse. In particular, her father oppressed her and did not allow her to marry. Her life had no romantic relationship in every story. She must have been kicked out to die happily. It's not surprising that when Robert Browning came, she was given a new life lease. In contrast, she was happy when she was a kid, which she describes in the second half of line 10. The child's faith is pure and presents new opportunities for all things. Returning to the 11 lines of religious sentiment, serial shooting refers to the lost love that the saints once had. Perhaps the Christian church is the love of traditional religions. Or can she look back on those who are sacred in her life and whom she respected and loved so much? She suggests that this love gives to her husband who is now back. She actually says on line 12, but with the deepest emotions, she is separated in a single dash. This returned love is soon her breath. Not only that, but it will be both the good and the bad that she had and will continue to do so. This is like her love. It all wraps around. And if God admits it in the last line, she continues to love her husband more even after she dies. So, her love is empowered and transcended beyond the grave.
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EB Browning’s ‘How Do I Love Thee?’.
(2023, October 11). Edubirdie. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://edubirdie.com/examples/analysis-of-elizabeth-barrett-brownings-sonnet-how-do-i-love-thee-critical-essay/
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2023 Oct 11 [cited 2024 Dec 22].
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