Sonnet 43

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Browning uses Sonnet 43 as a vehicle to express her profound love towards Robert Browning, the man whom she would go on to elope. Adopting the male dominated literary form of a sonnet, Browning challenges the denigration of the female voice in the 19th century, as she confidently asserts her right to express to articulate the female desire - a theme conventionally seen as illicit and taboo. As such she publishes her poem under the alias collection title ‘sonnets of the Portuguese’ in order to avoid social scrutiny and embarrassment under the pretence that she merely translated the poem

Question 2

Let me count the ways

Answer 2

Through the hyphora she assert her desire to be allowed to articulate her own feelings. The use of the imperative verb ‘let’ creates a tone of conviction and authority. The plural ‘ways’ alludes to the complex and multifaceted nature of her love, further accentuated by the depth breadth and height.

Question 3

Depth breadth and height

Answer 3

Their love is three dimensional, and relays the expansive nature of affection she feels. Debate her attempts to quantify and capture her love, the nouns make her love seem infinite and boundless.

Question 4

Soul

Answer 4

Elevates her love to a spiritual level through the reference to ‘soul’, it emphasises her bond is not shallow or physical - in fact it transcends all earthly realms

Question 5

I love thee to the level of Everyday’s

Answer 5

Noun invokes images of the mundane and domestic, allowing her to resist overly romanticised notions of love, but instead experience and celebrate day to day life with her beloved.

Question 6

Most quiet need

Answer 6

Adjective ‘quiet’ emphasises that their is not performative instead they calmly and consistently meet each others needs.

Question 7

Sun and candle light

Answer 7

Light imagery, implies her love is enduring and steadfast as it prevails through day and night

Question 8

I love thee with the passion put to use, in my old griefs

Answer 8

Implies that she surrenders whole heartedly, by diverting energy previously afforded to grief and past afflictions to the love of her betrothed. Perhaps here she is alluding to the loss of her mother and brother in her teenage years, which left her emotionally and physically shattered. ‘Put to use’ implies that she feels that love is more of a constructive outlet for her passion rather than the grief that previously consumed her. She celebrates her love as a transformative force, enabling her to over come past trauma and afflictions

Question 9

Childhood faiths, with my lost saints

Answer 9

Refers to her Christian upbringing. The verb ‘lost’ implies that she experienced a crisis of faith in adulthood, but new donating love restored her faith, making her closer to god.

Question 10

Smiles, tears

Answer 10

The juxtaposition emphasises whatever comes to her, good or bad, she feels supported in her relationship, therefore she devotes herself to her beloved

Question 11

And if god choose,

Answer 11

In final lines browning elevates her love to a transcendental level, implying that the love god has for humanity is mirrored in the love she feels for browning.

Question 12

I shall but love thee better after death

Answer 12

She conveys her faith that there love is eternal and therefore will only be strengthened, rather than finished after death. Her devout Christian faith allows her to promise her beloved not only her last “breath” but also an eternity of happiness in the afterlife