Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an English poet who captured the hearts of readers with her passionate love and immortalized her husband through her poetry. Born into a wealthy family in 1806, she had a happy childhood and received a rich education at home, cultivating her love for literature and languages. Despite her struggles with health and financial setbacks, she became one of the most prolific poets of the Victorian era, leaving behind a legacy of love and activism through her writing.
Barrett Browning's poetic talents were evident from a young age, as she wrote her first epic poem at the age of 12, funded by her father. By 1826, she anonymously shared her work with the public in her collection An Essay on Mind and Other Poems. Her passion for literary works and languages led her to teach herself Greek and Latin through reading books.
Unfortunately, the family's wealth declined due to the abolition of slavery and financial mismanagement, causing them to move and eventually settle in London. Barrett Browning's health also suffered throughout her life, with a lung illness and spinal injury leading her to seek warmer climates.
Despite her health challenges, Barrett Browning's talent as a poet gained recognition in literary circles with the publication of her collection The Seraphim and Other Poems in 1838. Her doctor advised her to move to a warmer climate, and she spent three years in Torquay, England, before returning to London. For the next five years, she secluded herself in her room, but still wrote and gained critical acclaim for her collection Poems in two parts, catching the eye of fellow poet Robert Browning.
Barrett Browning and Robert Browning began a secret courtship in 1845 and exchanged 575 letters during their 20 months of secrecy. They eventually married in September 1846 and moved to Italy, where they lived for most of their marriage. Financial struggles forced them to move frequently, but Barrett Browning's health improved significantly in the warm climate. The couple welcomed their son, Robert "Pen" Wiedeman Barrett Browning, in 1849.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's love for poetry and her husband shone through in her works, with her most famous being Sonnets from the Portuguese and Aurora Leigh, an early feminist text. She used her writing as a platform for social activism, speaking out against slavery, child labor, and the oppression of women. Despite facing criticism for her views, her talent as a poet and her dedication to love and justice continue to inspire readers today.
"Sonnets from the Portuguese" is a collection of 44 love sonnets published in 1850 by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Written between 1845-1846, these deeply personal poems reflect the evolving tone of her relationship with fellow poet Robert Browning. From initial hesitation and guardedness to pure passion and hope, the sonnets beautifully depict their journey of falling in love and growing together. Despite Barrett Browning's reservations about sharing such intimate verses, she titled the collection "Sonnets from the Portuguese," pretending they were translations from a foreign poet, to maintain some privacy. The most famous poem from the collection, "Sonnet 43," begins with the iconic line, "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways."
In 1857, Elizabeth Barrett Browning published "Aurora Leigh," a groundbreaking epic poem/novel of over 11,000 lines. Written in blank verse, it was the first feature-length poem in English with a female artist as its heroine. The protagonist, Aurora Leigh, tells her story in first-person, narrating her struggles, self-education, and pursuit of a career in literature. Despite societal pressure to marry, Aurora chooses to focus on her professional growth, showcasing her independence and refusal to conform to traditional gender roles.
While she eventually realizes her love for her cousin, the main focus of the poem remains on her career and friendship with another woman. "Aurora Leigh" touches upon themes of oppressive social expectations, gender-based violence, and the "woman question." This refers to the debate surrounding women's rights in the 19th century, where Barrett Browning firmly stood with female liberation and challenged the restrictive societal values that placed women's needs below those of their husbands and children.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's literary masterpiece "Aurora Leigh" delves into the issues that women faced in Victorian England. She was greatly influenced by Mary Wollstonecraft's work, "A Vindication of the Rights of Women," as seen in her own writing. Through her poetry, she sheds light on the unequal opportunities for women in the workforce and the power imbalances within marriages. She bravely tackles these themes in "Aurora Leigh" and even in her sonnets, where she expresses hesitation about the prospect of marriage.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, a prominent English poet of the Victorian age, was deeply affected by the societal norms and issues of her time. In the 19th century, women were limited in their rights and often controlled by their husbands and fathers. However, Barrett Browning defied these norms, rising to fame in a male-dominated literary scene.
Barrett Browning was a passionate advocate for social justice and used her writing to shed light on critical issues. She was particularly against the evils of slavery and child labor, prevalent in industrialized cities during her time. In her 1843 poem, "The Cry of the Children," she depicted the exploitation of young children in factories and the dangerous working conditions they faced. Through her powerful words, Barrett Browning condemned the prioritization of progress and profit over the welfare and safety of innocent children.
Smokestacks, pixabay.com
Elizabeth Barrett Browning was born into a wealthy family and had a happy childhood on her father's countryside estate. Due to her father's overprotectiveness, she and her siblings were self-taught. However, she faced health struggles from a young age, with a spinal injury at 15 and a lifelong lung ailment. Despite her illnesses, she pursued her passion for writing and became one of the most acclaimed poets of her time.
In 1846, Barrett Browning secretly eloped with fellow poet Robert Browning and was disowned by her father. This marked the beginning of a fruitful creative partnership between the two poets.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning is widely known for her influential works such as Sonnets from the Portuguese and Aurora Leigh. Through her writing, she sheds light on the struggles of women in her time and addresses social issues of industrialization and the fight for justice. Her legacy continues to be celebrated and her writing remains a significant part of English literature.
Browning's love sonnets, written in iambic pentameter, are considered some of the finest in English literature and showcase her deep love and devotion to her husband. Additionally, her poetic works bring to light the societal challenges faced by women and the fight against injustice. Her works have been a source of inspiration for many and continue to be studied and admired.
In a time when female writers faced obstacles, Elizabeth Barrett Browning used her platform to speak out against injustice and give a voice to the marginalized. Her writing continues to be a source of inspiration for writers and activists alike. Her legacy and contributions to literature and social activism are a testament to her enduring influence.
References:
1. 'First Letter Robert Browning wrote to Elizabeth Barrett Browning,' Project Gutenburg, (2005).
