'To George Sand: A Desire' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


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Thou large-brained woman and large-hearted man,
Self-called George Sand ! whose soul, amid the lions
Of thy tumultuous senses, moans defiance
And answers roar for roar, as spirits can:
I would some mild miraculous thunder ran
Above the applauded circus, in appliance
Of thine own nobler nature's strength and science,
Drawing two pinions, white as wings of swan,
From thy strong shoulders, to amaze the place
With holier light ! that thou to woman's claim
And man's, mightst join beside the angel's grace
Of a pure genius sanctified from blame
Till child and maiden pressed to thine embrace
To kiss upon thy lips a stainless fame.


Editor 1 Interpretation

To George Sand: A Desire

by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Have you ever read a poem that left you in awe? A poem that not only beautifully expresses the feelings of the poet but also leaves a lasting impact on the reader? To George Sand: A Desire by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is one such poem. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I aim to explore the themes, literary devices, and the context of the poem to understand the reasons behind its beauty and impact.

Context

Before diving into the poem itself, it is essential to understand the context in which it was written. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a prominent Victorian poet who had a flourishing literary career when she met and fell in love with Robert Browning, another famous poet. They got married in secret and moved to Italy, away from the prying eyes of society. During this time, Elizabeth wrote several poems to her friend and confidante, George Sand, who was a French novelist and feminist. To George Sand: A Desire is one such poem, written in 1861, that expresses Elizabeth's longing to meet her friend in person.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is the desire to meet a dear friend. Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses vivid imagery and metaphors to convey the intensity of her longing. The poem is divided into four stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of this theme.

In the first stanza, Elizabeth expresses her desire to meet George Sand in person. She says that she dreams of crossing the sea to meet her friend and that the thought of seeing her makes her heart beat faster. The second stanza explores the idea of time and distance. Elizabeth says that even though they are separated by land and sea, their friendship transcends these barriers. She believes that their souls are connected and that they will meet someday, even if it is in the afterlife.

In the third stanza, Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses nature as a metaphor for her longing. She says that she feels like a bird trapped in a cage, longing to fly away and meet her friend. She also compares her longing to the waves of the sea, which are constantly in motion but never reach their destination. The final stanza expresses Elizabeth's hope that she will someday meet George Sand in person. She says that even though they are separated by distance and time, their friendship is eternal, and they will meet again.

Literary Devices

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's use of literary devices is what makes this poem so beautiful and impactful. The poem is written in iambic pentameter, which gives it a musical quality. The use of enjambment, where the lines flow into each other without punctuation, creates a sense of continuity and fluidity.

Another literary device used in the poem is metaphor. Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses nature as a metaphor for her longing, comparing herself to a bird trapped in a cage and her longing to the waves of the sea. This use of metaphor not only makes the poem more vivid but also adds depth to its meaning.

The poem also uses repetition, with the phrase "I would" appearing at the beginning of the first three stanzas. This repetition emphasizes Elizabeth's desire to meet George Sand and adds to the poem's overall emotional impact.

Interpretation

To George Sand: A Desire is a beautifully written poem that explores the theme of longing for a dear friend. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's use of vivid imagery and metaphors makes the poem more relatable and adds depth to its meaning.

The poem is also significant because of the context in which it was written. Elizabeth Barrett Browning was living in Italy with her husband, away from her family and friends. In this poem, she expresses her longing to meet her friend George Sand, who was thousands of miles away in France. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the human need for connection.

In conclusion, To George Sand: A Desire is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the theme of friendship and longing. Elizabeth Barrett Browning's use of literary devices and vivid imagery makes the poem a masterpiece of Victorian poetry. It is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the human need for connection, making it a timeless piece of literature that resonates with readers even today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry To George Sand: A Desire - An Analysis

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Poetry To George Sand: A Desire" is a beautiful and complex poem that explores the relationship between poetry and the human experience. The poem is addressed to George Sand, a French writer and feminist who was a close friend of Browning's. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

Themes

The central theme of the poem is the power of poetry to connect us to our deepest emotions and desires. Browning begins the poem by describing the way that poetry can transport us to another world, where we can experience intense emotions and sensations:

"Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar."

Browning suggests that poetry has the power to reveal the hidden beauty of the world, to make us see things in a new light. This idea is echoed later in the poem when she writes:

"Poetry turns all things to loveliness; It exalts the beauty of that which is most beautiful, And it adds beauty to that which is most deformed."

Here, Browning is suggesting that poetry has the ability to transform even the ugliest and most mundane things into objects of beauty. This is a powerful idea, and one that speaks to the transformative power of art.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of desire. Browning writes:

"I desire your permission to print some lines addressed by me to you."

Here, Browning is expressing her desire to share her poetry with Sand, to connect with her through the medium of art. This desire is echoed later in the poem when she writes:

"I desire to speak with you by such familiar signs that the thread which binds us together might not be broken."

Browning is suggesting that poetry is a way of communicating with others on a deep and intimate level, a way of forging connections that transcend language and culture.

Structure

The poem is structured as a series of stanzas, each containing four lines. The rhyme scheme is ABAB, which gives the poem a sense of musicality and rhythm. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which means that each line contains four iambs (a metrical foot consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable). This gives the poem a sense of regularity and balance.

Language

Browning's language in this poem is rich and evocative. She uses a variety of poetic devices to create a sense of depth and complexity. For example, she uses metaphor to describe the power of poetry:

"Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world."

Here, the veil is a metaphor for the way that our perceptions of the world can be clouded by our preconceptions and biases. Poetry, according to Browning, has the power to lift this veil and reveal the true beauty of the world.

Browning also uses imagery to create a sense of vividness and immediacy. For example, she writes:

"Poetry turns all things to loveliness; It exalts the beauty of that which is most beautiful, And it adds beauty to that which is most deformed."

Here, she is using the image of a sculptor to describe the way that poetry can transform even the ugliest things into objects of beauty.

Conclusion

In "Poetry To George Sand: A Desire," Elizabeth Barrett Browning explores the power of poetry to connect us to our deepest emotions and desires. She suggests that poetry has the ability to reveal the hidden beauty of the world, to transform even the ugliest things into objects of beauty, and to forge connections between people that transcend language and culture. The poem is structured as a series of stanzas, each containing four lines, and the language is rich and evocative, using metaphor and imagery to create a sense of depth and complexity. Overall, this is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the transformative power of art.

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