Sonnet 43 Flashcards
“I love thee to the depth and breadth and height”
Barrett Browning uses dimensional imagery to emphasise that her love is as strong as can be, implying it is infinite and ubiquitous.
“Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight”
Barrett Browning uses the nouns “sun” and “candlelight” to suggest that she needs Robert as much as she needs other basic necessities of life.
“In my old griefs, … and with my childhood’s faith:”
Barrett Browning emphasises the purity of her love for Robert through the use of “childhood faith” which implies that just as a child is pure, innocent and has faith, so, too does she have pure and innocent love for her husband.
“I shall but love thee better after death.”
Barret Browning juxtaposes “love” with “death” to highlight the uniqueness of her love for Robert and also implies that her love is so strong that death cannot weaken it, death may even strengthen it as she can be with Robert always after death.
