Talk with Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–1861) was one of the most prominent English poets of the Victorian era. Known for her bold, passionate, and eloquent poetry, she was a prolific writer who explored themes ranging from love and social injustice to gender issues, making her work significant then and relevant now.

Born on March 6, 1806, in Coxhoe Hall, Durham, England, she was the eldest of twelve children. Elizabeth was educated at home, gaining a classical education from her father, Edward Barrett Moulton Barrett, which was unusual for women at the time. Her erudition is evident in her work, which alludes to Greek literature, philosophy, and contemporary political issues.

From an early age, Barrett Browning showed a keen interest in literature and began writing poems. Her first collection, titled "An Essay on Mind, with Other Poems," was published in 1826, although it did not gain much attention. Her reputation began to build with the publication of "Poems" in 1844, which received widespread acclaim and caught the attention of fellow poet Robert Browning, whom she would later marry in 1846.

Her best-known work is "Sonnets from the Portuguese," a collection of 44 love sonnets published in 1850, which were written to Browning during their courtship. These sonnets are considered some of the most beautiful love poems in the English language, with Sonnet 43 starting with the famous line, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."

Elizabeth's work often addressed social injustices and offered a critique of her own society. For instance, in "The Cry of the Children," she explored the miserable conditions of children working in mines and factories, helping raise awareness and advocating for reform.

Barrett Browning’s health was poor throughout her life; she had respiratory ailments, possibly tuberculosis, and later suffered from spinal problems. Despite these challenges, she remained intellectually active and engaged with literary and social issues until her death on June 29, 1861, in Florence, Italy. Her works remain influential in the fields of literature and social justice, and she is remembered as a pioneer for women's place in literature.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was more contemporaneous with the Victorian era than the Romantic era, her poetry and life, however, did reflect and influence the transition between these periods. As the Romantic era primarily spanned the late 18th century and early 19th century, and Barrett Browning’s significant works were published mostly in the mid to late 19th century, her influences were more on the tail end of the Romantic period and into the Victorian period.

Her writing style and themes certainly echo the emotional intensity and individualism championed by the Romantics. For example, her passionate and personal sonnets in "Sonnets from the Portuguese" reflect the Romantic emphasis on personal emotion and love. Furthermore, her poem "Aurora Leigh," which combines elements of narrative and epic poetry centered around individual development, shows a strong Romantic influence in its style and focus on personal expression and the sublime.

Barrett Browning was also a progressive thinker, engaging with issues such as social justice, gender roles, and the abolition of slavery, aligning her with the later social and political consciousness that Romantic poets such as Wordsworth and Coleridge began to exhibit.

Through her popularity and engagement with current events and social issues, she influenced her contemporaries and later poets to consider more than just abstract, idealistic themes but to also embrace activism and social commentary in their poetry. Poets of the Victorian era, including Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning, her husband, were influenced by her blend of personal emotion with broader humanitarian concerns, continuing a legacy of blending personal experience with wider social issues—an approach that has roots in the work of Romantic poets.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's illness had a profound impact on both her poetry and her personal life. From an early age, she suffered from numerous health issues, which historians and biographers believe likely included tuberculosis and a spinal condition. Her illness has been variously described as intense and debilitating, and it often confined her to bed or her room for long periods.

In terms of her personal life, Elizabeth's health issues made her reliant on laudanum (a tincture of opium), which was commonly prescribed at the time for pain relief. Her illness also necessitated a strict and somewhat isolated regimen; she spent much of her time indoors and had limited social interactions. This isolation, however, allowed her to cultivate a rich inner life and dedicate much time to her literary pursuits. Her physical constraints did not dampen her intellectual vivacity or her passion for literary and social issues.

Professionally, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's poetry often reflects themes of health, suffering, and recovery, which can be seen as directly influenced by her personal experiences with illness. For example, her prolonged ill health is mirrored in the themes of endurance and resilience found in works like “Sonnets from the Portuguese” and “Aurora Leigh.” Her sonnet, “Grief,” poignantly touches upon themes of pain and endurance.

Her illness also shaped her relationship with fellow poet Robert Browning. The couple corresponded for months before meeting in person, primarily because of Elizabeth’s reclusive state due to her ill health. Their correspondence blossomed into a deep love, leading to her elopement with Browning in 1846, which was partly motivated by her desire to escape the oppressive environment at home under her father's strict regime, and partly in hopes that a better climate in Italy might improve her health.

Thus, while her illness imposed significant restrictions on her life, it arguably also deepened the emotional and philosophical depths of her literary output, contributing to the lasting impact of her work.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was notably progressive in her views on women's rights and gender equality, particularly for the Victorian era in which she lived. Her work often incorporated themes of social justice, including the rights of women. She believed strongly in the intellectual and creative capacities of women and argued against the restrictive norms that limited women's roles in society.

One of her most significant works addressing the issue of women's rights is the poem "Aurora Leigh." This lengthy narrative poem, which is often considered one of her masterpieces, explores the struggles of Aurora, a female poet who seeks to make her way in a male-dominated world. Through this work, Barrett Browning critiques the Victorian notion that women should be confined to the domestic sphere and instead champions the idea of women pursuing their own artistic and professional ambitions.

Barrett Browning's correspondence and other writings also reflect her concern for women’s issues. She supported the education of women and their right to pursue careers, pushing back against the limited opportunities available to them during her time. Her work and her views helped to pave the way for more modern feminist ideas and movements, positioning her as an important figure in the history of women’s rights advocacy.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning met her future husband, Robert Browning, in a very Victorian manner: through letters. In 1844, Robert Browning, who was already an admirer of Elizabeth’s work, wrote to her after reading her poems. In his letter, he expressed his admiration for her poetry, saying, "I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett," and thus began a correspondence that would lead to one of the most famous courtships in literary history.

Over the next 20 months, Elizabeth and Robert exchanged 574 letters, which reveal a deepening mutual respect and affection. Their correspondence covered a wide range of topics, including literature, their respective works, and personal feelings. Elizabeth, who was six years older than Robert and had been living as a semi-invalid under her father’s strict and protective eye, found in Robert a liberating and understanding partner.

Their relationship, conducted almost entirely through letters, culminated in their elopement in 1846 due to Elizabeth's father’s disapproval of his children marrying. After the marriage, the Brownings moved to Italy, where Elizabeth’s health improved, and she continued to write prolifically.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning died on June 29, 1861.

Sonnet 43, which begins with the famous line "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways," is one of the most celebrated poems from Elizabeth Barrett Browning's collection "Sonnets from the Portuguese." This collection was primarily written during her courtship with Robert Browning, the man who would become her husband.

Sonnet 43 explores the theme of intense and enduring love. In the poem, Browning enumerates the various ways in which she loves her beloved. She speaks of loving freely and purely, with a passion that she believes will continue after death. The poem emphasizes love's spiritual and enduring nature, suggesting that true love is not bound by the limitations of the earthly life. It illustrates a deep and all-consuming love that Browning feels not only with her heart, but with her soul and all of her being. This sonnet, like much of her work, blends personal emotion with high poetic ideals, making it a deeply intimate yet universally appealing work.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote the sonnet "How Do I Love Thee?" (Sonnet 43) as part of her sequence "Sonnets from the Portuguese." The sonnets were largely personal, reflecting her deep love and affection for her husband, Robert Browning. This particular sonnet, one of the most famous from the sequence, explores the theme of love in its profound, enduring, and consuming nature. It is believed that Browning expressed her intense feelings of love not only in romantic terms but also through a spiritual and transcendent lens, capturing the depth of her emotional connection to Robert. This sonnet and others in the sequence were initially intended to remain private, but Robert Browning encouraged her to publish them, believing in their artistic merit and the universal appeal of their themes.

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