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The main ideas of Elizabeth Barrett Brownings poetic works changed constantly during her life, due to significant events occuring Spirituality was the main focus of Barrett's writing from 1838 until 1844. Poetry became such a large part of her life due to a spinal injury in 1821 which left her relying on opium for a long period of time. As well as the ill-manners of her health, Barrett experienced the tragic death of her brother due to drowning in the year of 1838. These significant events left Barrett in a state of emotional turmoil.
She found herself unable to live in the world of reality. For four years, she seperated herself from reality by locking herself in a bedroom. During this time, the only persons she conversed with was her family and one or two close friends. It was during this period that poetry became such a significant part of Barrett's life. She began to write about Jesus, Angels, and other significant biblical characters. In the poem The Seraphim, two angels stand outside the Garden of Eden.
It is there they describe and praise God for his awesome splendor and majesty. Of earth, the God-created and God praised In hour of birth Where every night the moon in light Doth lead waters silver faced? Where every day the sun doth lay A rapture to the heart of all The leafy and reader pastoral, As if the joyous shout which burst From angel lips to see him first, Had left a silent echo in his ray? (The Seraphim, 1838) The poem is a deep reflection of what Barrett feels inside at this time in her life. She is depressed, lonely and full of agony because of all the awful things which are happening, so she turns to spirituality. She looks to God for renewal and strength, expressing his awesomeness in her poems, as she does here when describing the Holy God. Another poem written during the time of despair is titled The Virgin Mary to the Child Jesus.
The poem is a stanza of the Virgin Mary speaking to her baby child, Jesus. She is blessing him and praising him for greatness. She speaks of him as having a perfect name, as well as celestial wings and head. She speaks of him as being so holy that she can hardly contain herself. Sleep, sleep my Holy One! My flesh, my Lord! - what name?
I do not know A name that seemed not too high or low, too far from me or heaven; My Jesus, that is best! That word be given By the majestic angel whose command was softly as a mans beseeching said, When I and all the earth appeared to stand. In the great overflow of light celestial from wings and head Sleep, sleep my saving one! (The Virgin Mary to the Child Jesus, 1838) Within this poem, it is revealed once again that Elizabeth had a deep influence of spirituality at the time in her life, specifically of Christianity which is shown here. Did God come to her when she was locked up in her room? It seems as if she has an overflowing amount of words to speak of spirituality. Its almost as if shes possessed by the spirit.
As well as having vast knowledge of the Holy Bible at the time, Browning also possesses knowledge of Greek religions and spiritual ideas. In the poem A Drama in Exile, Browning writes pre-occupied by the idea of combining incidents from the Christian story into an epic Greek tragedy. It is at this place in the poem where where Lucifer exists, and Adam and Eve have just been shunned from the garden. Rejoice in the clefts of Gehenna, My exiled, my host!
Earth has exiles as hopeless as when a Heavens empire was lost Through the seams her shaken foundations, Smoke up in great joy! With smoke to your fierce exultations deform and destroy! Your lurid revenges, And darken the face Of white heaven and taunt them with changes From glory and grace (A Drama in Exile, 1843) Here she combines the two spiritual ideas of Christianity and Greek theology. Ironically though, she portrays Lucifer to be joyful that he finally conquered good. Could this be a result of Barrett's frustration with herself or with the world? It is certain that she is knowledgable and quite interested in Christianity, but her true beliefs are questionable in this literary work.
Despite Barrett's different ideas regarding religion and spirituality, it is definite that writing of spiritual types is what brought her through the difficult time in her life. Poetry written by Barrett during her middle-aged years consisted of works focused on the topic of love. Due to her engagement to Robert Browning in 1844, and a marriage following a year later, many fresh ideas arose on the topic of love and happiness. Love is obvious when one writes on the topic of love, and Lady Geraldine's Courtship proves just that. The piece recalls the fantasy story of a woman, Lady Geraldine, and her courtship with a man she has an encounter with. She has voters in the Commons, She has lovers in the palace And, of all the fair court-ladies, few have jewels half as fine.
Oft the prince named her beauty Twixt the red wine and the chalice. Oh, what was I to love her? My beloved, my Geraldine? (Lady Geraldine's Courtship, 1844) The fact that Barrett writes a tale of another woman in love, and the experiences she encounters, gives the reader an idea of what Barrett's feelings were at the time she was in love. The poem is filled with romance, dreams and fantasies, many of which could have paralleled Barrett's life also. Printed in 1847, and simply entitled Love, Barrett expresses her deep thoughts on love in the poem. She speaks of souls choice and conscience, and life in perfect whole as if it, or he, means the world to her.
But when a soul, by choice and conscience, doth Throw out her full force on another soul, The conscience and the concentration both Make mere life, Love. For life in perfect whole And aim consummated, is Love in sooth, As Natures magnet-heat rounds pole with pole. (Love, 1847) Barrett speaks of love so deeply, its almost as if she is one with her writing. She talks so deeply of souls in love, and a perfect life, it is obvious that she is in deep love with Robert Browning. Its this deep desire and passion that she has for him at this time in her life which inspires her to write the simple poem, Love. Perhaps Barrett's most famous piece, Sonnets from the Portuguese, describes her doubts regarding Roberts love for her. He professed to love her so much, she could hardly grasp the idea, and was in great disbelief.
Say over again, and yet once over again, That though dost love me. Though the word repeated Should seem a cuckoo-song, as though dost treat it, Remember, never to the hill or plain, Valley and wood, without her cuckoo-strain Comes the fresh Spring in all her green completed. (Sonnets from the Portuguese, 1850) The poems title is often mistaken for a translation of Portuguese poems, which it is not. Roberts pet name for Barrett was my little portuguese. The poem shows Barrett's love for her husband Robert, but also the doubt she experiences when she begs Robert to tell her of his love repeatedly. Sonnets from the Portuguese is a key piece of literature at the special time of love in Barrett's life.
She has the ability to express her feelings on paper with such talent and style. The later part of Barrett's life consisted of poems which reflected her passionate views on political and social issues. The piece, The Runaway Slave at Pilgrims Point, expresses Barrett's beliefs opposing slavery. I am black, I am black, And yet God made me, they say But if he did so smiling back. (The Runaway Slave at Pilgrims Point, 1850) The poem is written from the point of view of a black person during the terrible days of slavery.
Barrett expresses her compassion for those who were treated so horribly by placing herself in the shoes of a black person within the poetry. Casa Guide Windows displays Barrett's opinions regarding Italian rights to independance from the Austrians. She expresses her compassion for them by artistically expressing her political views. Dazed Naples, Hungary fainting neath the thong, And Austria wearing a smooth olive-leaf On her brute forehead, while her hoofs oppress The life from these Italian souls, in brief. O Lord of Peace, who are Lord of Righteousness, Constrain the anguished worlds from sin and grief, Pierce them with conscience, purge them with redress, And give us peace which is no counterfeit! (Casa Guide Windows, 1851) Barrett, at this time in her life felt quite a strong pity towards the Italians. The later part of her life she begins to develop such wisdom and knowledge about social and political issues, racism being one of them, and is greatly admired by many for stepping out of her comfort zone.
A work which expresses Barrett's social opinions even more bluntly is her piece titled Aurora Leigh. The poem reveals the silent struggles women face due to the overpowering male dominance in society. It is a story of a female writer struggling to become a successful poet in a hectic literary world. A harmless live, she called a virtuous life, A quiet life, which was not life at all, Between the vicar and the county squires, The lord-lieutenant looking down sometimes From the empyreal, the assure their souls Against chance vulgarisms, and, in the abyss, The apothecary looked on once a year, To prove their soundness of humility. The poor-club exercised her Christian gifts Of knitting stockings, stitching petticoats, Because we are of one flesh after all. (Aurora Leigh, 1857) Barrett wrote this poem to express her exact feelings towards the world, and the oppression of herself and other women writers. During her lifetime, men were the dominant figures in society, and to become a famous woman was quite the task.
Barrett however, overcame this challenge and went on to be a worldly known female poet for her talent in writing. Though Barrett had many hardships throughout her childhood and adult years, literature seemed to have brought her through it all. Despite illness, death and depression, Barrett prevailed and learned to express her many emotions through writing. Through her poetry she was able to share her feelings with others, and help many people express their thoughts also. She will forever be remembered as the strong woman with the exceptional ability to put emotions onto paper.
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Research essay sample on Life Of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
