Name : Garon, Aletheia R.
Date : November 15, 2024
Grade & Section : STEM12-2PM Teacher : Ms. Buen
Reaction Paper:
How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Publication: In her collection "Sonnets from the Portuguese," composed between 1845-
1846, published in 1850.
From Barrett Browning's collection, one of the most popular is this sonnet. It was a declaration
of passion with love, wherein the speaker tried to quantify the ways in which she loved her
partner. Here, rich imagery and emotional language presented a deep and abiding love that even
overpasses physical existence or time. Barrett Browning explores both spiritual and practical
dimensions of love and promises that this love will continue even after death.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)" is the eternal expression of
the intensity and scope of true love, as embodied in the work by dynamic imagery, emotional
power, and deeply personal viewpoint that really endures.
The general mood evoked by Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)" is one of
deep, sincere affection and devotion. We readers are transported into a profound feeling of love
and adoration that the speaker feels for his loved one. The poem is replete with warmth,
sincerity, and that eternal romanticism. Using such words as "freely," "purely," and "passion"
establishes an atmosphere of ardent and unleashed emotion on behalf of the speaker himself in
devotion and emotional intensity.
I believe that Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet is the quintessential declaration of true love.
This poem's strength actually is in its expression of the many ways through which love tends to
manifest. For example, when the poet says, "I love thee to the depth and breadth and height / My
soul can reach,," it seems that such a love exceeds beyond human limits and stretches deep into
their soul. In this regard, metaphor is a very good tool for them to describe their love completely.
The poet's repetition of "I love thee" at the start of several lines gives anaphora emphasis to the
lack of relenting and commitment of the speaker. Just as consistency in form and rhythm is there
in the sonnet, similarly the stability and constancy are also found to exist within the love of the
speaker. The reason why Barrett Browning's lines like "In my old griefs, and with my
childhood's faith," resonate with readers is because they actually acknowledge that it is in this
love where people are to find their past, present, and future combined.
I will definitely suggest "How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43)" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning to
every reader who loves literature written in classical verse and profound emotional observations.
This is a piece of literature worth reading for the scholar because it so graphically portrays the
forever nature of love through imagery and emotional depth. In addition, souls that seek a
powerfully and well-articulated declaration of love emotionally will find Barrett Browning's
sonnet a poignant and moving read.
From the above, it can be seen that Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet
43)" is indeed the ultimate passionate and powerfully written deliverance of love's multifaceted
characteristics. It is truly impressive how her use of language and poetical style manages to
capture the spirit of love and is one of the most discussed classic subjects of love among the
readers of all ages. Through it, the sonnets explore the spiritual and practical sides of love. The
emotional intensity molds this piece to be a timeless inspiration that touches its readers' hearts
even more so today. It stands as a testament to the 'enduring power of love' and just how deeply
it can impact our lives.
References:
Barrett Browning, E. (1850). How Do I Love Thee? (Sonnet 43). In Sonnets from the
Portuguese. Retrieved from [Poetry Foundation]
(https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43742/sonnets-from-the-portuguese-43-how-do-i-
love-thee-let-me-count-the-ways).
