Bangkit Isnu S (1809010028)

Kalyana Gita P (1809010041)

Eternity of Love in Elizabeth Borwning’s poem

Elizabet Browning became a well-known poet before she met her husband Robert Browning

in 1845. Before that time, she had been an invalid and a recluse. Although her father was vehemently

opposed to their marriage, the couple eloped in Italy. It was here that Barret Browning wrote a series

of sonnets for her husband which were published in 1850 under the title Sonnets from the Portuguese.

Among these poems, "If Thou Must Love Me" expresses Barrett Browning's wish for her husband not

to love her for things which may fade but for love's sake only.

Elizabeth made this poem in Italian sonnet with 1 octave and 1 sestet. Its mean two groups of

four lines and two groups of three lines. Different from Shakespearean sonnet, this sonnet close with

a couple, and the second half of this poem is the conclusion from the first. In other word, the second

half is confirm the firs sonnet. This sonnet usual use rhyming ABBAABBA and CDCDCD.

Its explanation about relationship between man and woman who need more proof about love,

and try to show what the true love is. Elizabet browning at her poem try to show how simple love is,

how beautiful love if sincerely lived without an embellishment that is not too important. Man and

woman also have unique relation in their each other feeling, sometimes love no need to be disclosed

and cannot be expressed in words. The relations between men and women are often times very

complex, but they can also be simple.

“Let it be for nought” illustrates that love is based on its nature. Not loving in the form of a

smile or its shape, love proof of its nature. Elizabeth Browning wants a woman and man to love to be

with that nature of love. Don’t let love make it based on lust alone. Elizabeth wants to love as a form

of long-lasting love. Elizabeth loves her husband a form of love that wants a sincere love for both of

them.
 The youngers using words and action for loving someone. If they love somebody, boys or girls

use to describe it with words of love and not purity of love. Besides using words, they also use physical

activities as the sign of loving somebody. “Love in the first sight” the reason they love somebody and

sometimes the everlasting love doesn’t exist anymore. Replace it by love in the first sight and end the

beginning of the year. love as if it's bland because of that, and love only becomes a word. this is the

very opposite of Elizabeth's poetry, and everyone have own definition about love, but is that true

love?

“Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry:

A creature might forget to weep, who bore

Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!

But love me for love’s sake, that evermore

Thou mayst love on, through love’s eternity.”

This Last line is conclude about Elizabeth opinion about love is, and how we actually revealed

it. Speaker’s need to be loved of her entire request with love sake only, not anything else. this is stated

in this sonnet “Thou mayst love on” throughout all eternity.”

Today people are very easy to say and betray the word love, because they don't understand

the true meaning of love, and Elizabeth with her experience in the past try to explain what is eternity

love, what is a comfort, and incomparable loyalty without things that are not in accordance with the

honesty of a relationship, between women and man that is love each other.

SOURCE :

- https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/69378.html

- https://poemanalysis.com/sonnet-14-if-thou-must-love-mesonnet-fourteen-by-elizabeth-

barret-browning-poem-analysis/
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