Sonnet 43 Analysis

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43, also known as "How do I love thee? (sonnet 43)", is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry that explores the multifaceted nature of love. This line-by-line analysis reveals the depth and complexity of the poet's emotions.

Quote: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."

This opening line sets the tone for the entire poem, introducing the central theme of quantifying and describing love in various ways.

Highlight: The poem uses measurements and comparisons to express the vastness of the speaker's love.

The poet employs phrases like "depth and breadth and height" to convey the immeasurable nature of her affection. This use of spatial imagery creates a sense of love that extends beyond physical boundaries.

Vocabulary: Anaphora - A rhetorical device where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

The repetition of "I love thee" throughout the poem is an example of anaphora, emphasizing the speaker's devotion and the many facets of her love.

Example: "I love thee to the level of every day's / Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight."

This line illustrates how the speaker's love extends to everyday life, suggesting that her affection is not just for grand moments but also for the quiet, ordinary aspects of existence.

Definition: Petrarchan sonnet - A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme (ABBA ABBA CDCDCD) and typically divided into an octave and a sestet.

The Sonnet 43 structure follows the Petrarchan form, with the octave presenting the ways of loving and the sestet delving into the spiritual aspects of love.

Highlight: The poem draws parallels between romantic love and religious devotion.

Phrases like "ideal Grace" and "lost saints" suggest that the speaker's love has either restored her faith in God or replaced her religious devotion with romantic love.

Quote: "I love thee with the passion put to use / In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith."

This line implies that the speaker's love is as intense as her past sorrows and as pure as her childhood beliefs, adding depth to her emotional expression.

Vocabulary: Volta - A turn or shift in thought or emotion in a sonnet, typically occurring between the octave and sestet.

The volta in Sonnet 43 is subtle, transitioning from describing the ways of loving to exploring the spiritual and eternal nature of love.

Highlight: The poem concludes with a reference to love extending beyond death.

The final lines, "and, if God choose, / I shall but love thee better after death," suggest that the speaker's love is so profound that it will continue to grow even in the afterlife.

This Victorian poetry analysis of Sonnet 43 reveals Elizabeth Barrett Browning's masterful use of poetic techniques to express the depth and complexity of love. The poem's enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to capture the universal experience of profound affection.