How Do I Love Thee? — A Sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
“How Do I Love Thee?” is a sonnet by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, renowned for its passionate expression of love. This timeless poem, first appearing as Sonnet 43 in her collection Sonnets from the Portuguese (1850), has become a beloved classic, often quoted and celebrated for its profound portrayal of love’s depth and enduring nature.
The Poem’s Background
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” (Sonnet 43) was written in 1846 and originally titled “Sonnet 43.” It was part of a collection of 44 sonnets, later published in 1850 as “Sonnets from the Portuguese.” The collection, which was written secretly at first, was inspired by Barrett Browning’s passionate love for the poet Robert Browning, whom she met in 1845.
The title “Sonnets from the Portuguese” was chosen by Barrett Browning to suggest that these poems were translated from Portuguese, implying a foreign and exotic origin. In reality, they were written in English and were a deeply personal expression of her love for Robert Browning. The collection’s title, “Sonnets from the Portuguese,” created a veil of secrecy, allowing Barrett Browning to express her feelings with more freedom and vulnerability.
The poems in the collection were written during a time when Barrett Browning was facing both personal and societal restrictions. She was confined to her home due to illness and was under the watchful eye of her overprotective father. Her relationship with Browning was forbidden by her family, adding another layer of complexity to their love.
The Meaning of “How Do I Love Thee?”
The poem “How Do I Love Thee?” is a powerful declaration of love, exploring the vastness and depth of the speaker’s affection for her beloved. The speaker’s love is multifaceted, encompassing various dimensions, from the spiritual and intellectual to the physical and emotional. The poem’s opening lines, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways!” immediately establish the boundless nature of the speaker’s love. She uses a rhetorical question to emphasize the impossibility of fully quantifying or describing the extent of her feelings.
The poem delves into different aspects of love, highlighting its enduring nature, its capacity for growth, and its ability to transcend even the most profound losses. The speaker’s love is described as reaching “to the depth and breadth and height” of her soul, suggesting a love that extends beyond the physical realm and touches the very essence of her being. She loves “freely, as men strive for Right,” indicating a love that is not based on selfish desires but on a deep sense of justice and righteousness. The speaker’s love is “purely, as they turn from Praise,” implying a love that is free from any ulterior motives or expectations of reward.
The poem concludes by emphasizing the enduring nature of the speaker’s love, even in the face of grief and loss. She declares, “I love thee with a love I seemed to lose/With my lost saints,” suggesting that her love has survived previous disappointments and has only grown stronger with time. This declaration adds a layer of depth and complexity to the poem, highlighting the transformative power of love and its ability to endure even the most challenging circumstances.
The Depth and Breadth of Love
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” explores the depth and breadth of love in a way that resonates deeply with readers. The speaker’s love is not confined to mere physical attraction; it extends far beyond, encompassing the entirety of her being. She declares, “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height/My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight/For the ends of being and ideal grace,” revealing that her love is boundless, reaching the furthest corners of her soul and encompassing all that is good and beautiful.
Browning uses vivid imagery to convey the vastness of her love. She compares it to the vastness of the universe, suggesting that her love is as expansive as the cosmos itself. She loves “to the level of every days/Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light,” demonstrating that her love extends to the everyday details and simple moments of life. This love is not fleeting or superficial; it is deep and enduring, capable of sustaining her through both joy and sorrow.
The poem’s structure further highlights the depth and breadth of the speaker’s love; The repetition of the phrase “How do I love thee?” at the beginning and end of each stanza emphasizes the speaker’s unwavering devotion. The use of a sonnet form, a traditional structure associated with love poetry, reinforces the poem’s theme of enduring and profound love.
The Importance of Everyday Love
Beyond grand gestures and romantic ideals, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” celebrates the profound significance of everyday love. The poem transcends the realm of passionate declarations and delves into the quiet, often overlooked moments that define a deep and lasting love. The speaker emphasizes the importance of love in the ordinary, saying, “I love thee to the level of every days/Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.” This line reveals that love is not solely reserved for special occasions or grand displays of affection, but rather it flourishes in the simple routines and shared experiences of daily life.
Browning’s words suggest that love finds its truest expression in the small gestures and acts of kindness that we perform for one another every day. It is the shared cup of tea, the quiet conversation by candlelight, the unspoken understanding in a shared glance ⸺ these seemingly mundane moments are the building blocks of a love that endures. She emphasizes that her love is present in the “most quiet need,” highlighting the importance of love in providing comfort, support, and a sense of security in the everyday.
“How Do I Love Thee?” reminds us that love is not a fleeting emotion but a force that can sustain us through the ups and downs of life. It is in the everyday moments, the shared experiences, and the quiet gestures of affection that love finds its truest and most enduring expression.
Love in the Face of Grief and Loss
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” explores the enduring power of love, even in the face of grief and loss. While the poem primarily celebrates the depth and breadth of the speaker’s love for her beloved, it also acknowledges the possibility of heartache and the enduring nature of love in the face of such adversity; The line, “I love thee with the passion put to use/In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith,” reveals that the speaker’s love is deeply intertwined with her past experiences, including both joy and sorrow.
The phrase “old griefs” suggests that the speaker has experienced loss and heartbreak in her life. Yet, rather than diminishing her love, these experiences have intensified it. They have shaped her perspective on love, making her appreciate its enduring power even in the face of hardship. By linking her love to “childhood’s faith,” Browning further emphasizes the deep-rooted nature of this emotion, suggesting that it is a part of her very being, a source of strength that has sustained her through life’s challenges.
The poem’s depiction of love as a force that transcends grief and loss offers a powerful message of hope and resilience. It reminds us that love can provide solace and strength in the darkest of times, helping us to heal and find meaning even in the face of loss.
The Importance of Faith
Faith plays a significant role in Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” The speaker’s love is intertwined with a deep sense of faith, which contributes to the enduring nature of her affection. The line, “I love thee with the passion put to use/In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith,” highlights this connection. The speaker’s love is rooted in a faith that has sustained her through past hardships, suggesting that her love is not merely an emotional response but a fundamental aspect of her being.
The phrase “childhood’s faith” evokes a sense of innocence and purity, implying that the speaker’s love is grounded in a belief system that is both timeless and unwavering. This faith provides a foundation for her love, making it strong and resilient. It suggests that her love is not merely a fleeting emotion but a profound commitment that transcends the uncertainties of life.
The poem’s inclusion of faith underscores the idea that love is not simply a human construct but a force that can be strengthened by a belief in something greater than ourselves. It suggests that love, when grounded in faith, can provide a sense of purpose and direction, helping us to navigate the challenges of life and find meaning in our experiences.
The Poem’s Structure and Form
Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee?” adheres to the strict form of the Shakespearean sonnet, a structure that consists of 14 lines divided into three quatrains (four-line stanzas) and a final couplet (two-line stanza). The rhyme scheme is ABAB CDCD EFEF GG, creating a rhythmic flow and interweaving the lines with a sense of musicality.
The sonnet’s structure, particularly the volta, or turn, at the beginning of the third quatrain, contributes to the poem’s emotional impact. The shift from enumerating the ways the speaker loves to exploring the depth and intensity of her love creates a dynamic tension that mirrors the complexities of love itself.
The use of iambic pentameter, a rhythm pattern that alternates unstressed and stressed syllables, further enhances the poem’s musicality and creates a sense of natural speech. The rhythmic flow reinforces the speaker’s passionate and heartfelt expression of love. The carefully constructed form of the Shakespearean sonnet allows Browning to convey the depth and breadth of her love with precision and beauty.
The Poem’s Impact on Literature
“How Do I Love Thee?” has had a profound impact on literature, solidifying its place as a defining example of romantic love poetry. Its influence can be seen in various ways. Firstly, the poem elevated the sonnet form to new heights, demonstrating its potential for capturing the complexities of human emotions. Browning’s masterful use of the Shakespearean sonnet inspired other poets to explore love and passion through this structured form.
Secondly, the poem’s passionate language and heartfelt expression of love resonated with readers, influencing the romantic and sentimental themes explored in later poetry. It established a precedent for expressing love with a depth and honesty that transcended mere romanticism.
Thirdly, “How Do I Love Thee?” has served as a model for countless love poems, inspiring writers to explore the nuances of love, its enduring nature, and its power to transcend boundaries. The poem’s enduring popularity and its impact on literary traditions demonstrate its significance as a masterpiece of love poetry that continues to inspire generations of readers and writers.
The Poem’s Popularity and Legacy
“How Do I Love Thee?” has enjoyed enduring popularity, becoming one of the most recognized and beloved poems in the English language. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal themes of love, devotion, and the complexities of human relationships. The poem’s simple yet profound language resonates with readers across cultures and generations, speaking to the timeless nature of love.
The poem’s popularity is evident in its frequent inclusion in anthologies, its adaptation into various media, and its frequent use in weddings and other celebrations of love. It has been set to music, performed in theater, and even used in popular culture, appearing in films, television shows, and even advertising.
“How Do I Love Thee?” has secured its place in the literary canon, representing a pinnacle of romantic poetry. Its legacy extends beyond its influence on literature; it has become a cultural touchstone, symbolizing enduring love and inspiring countless individuals to express their own emotions. Its popularity and enduring legacy ensure that “How Do I Love Thee?” will continue to be cherished for generations to come.
Where to Find “How Do I Love Thee?”
Accessing “How Do I Love Thee?” is incredibly easy, with numerous resources available online and in print. You can find the poem in various digital formats, including PDF, EPUB, and TXT, making it readily accessible for reading on computers, tablets, and e-readers. Numerous websites dedicated to poetry and literature host the poem, allowing you to read it directly online.
For those who prefer physical copies, “How Do I Love Thee?” is widely available in poetry anthologies and collections of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s works. Many libraries, both physical and online, also have copies of the poem available for borrowing. You can easily find “How Do I Love Thee?” in print editions of Sonnets from the Portuguese, the collection in which it first appeared.
No matter your preferred format or method of access, “How Do I Love Thee?” is readily available, allowing you to experience this enduring poem firsthand.