'Sonnet 39 - Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning


AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay


XXXIX

Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace
To look through and behind this mask of me
(Against which years have beat thus blanchingly
With their rains), and behold my soul's true face,
The dim and weary witness of life's race,—
Because thou hast the faith and love to see,
Through that same soul's distracting lethargy,
The patient angel waiting for a place
In the new Heavens,—because nor sin nor woe,
Nor God's infliction, nor death's neighborhood,
Nor all which others viewing, turn to go,
Nor all which makes me tired of all, self-viewed,—
Nothing repels thee, . . . Dearest, teach me so
To pour out gratitude, as thou dost, good!

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sonnet 39: Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace

Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a renowned poet of the Victorian era, and her works are still popular among literature enthusiasts. Her sonnet, "Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace," is a masterpiece that showcases her poetic skills and depth of emotions. The poem is part of her collection of sonnets called Sonnets from the Portuguese, which was written during her courtship with her husband Robert Browning.

Analysis of the Poem

The poem is a love sonnet, and it is addressed to the speaker's beloved. The opening line, "Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace," is a clear indication that the speaker views her lover as powerful and graceful. The use of the word "because" suggests that the lover's power and grace are the reasons why the speaker loves him. This line sets the tone of the poem and prepares the reader for the speaker's declarations of love.

In the second line, the speaker says, "To look through eyes that love thee, - mild and clear." The use of the word "mild" suggests that the speaker's love for her lover is gentle, while the word "clear" suggests that her love is transparent. The speaker wants to see her lover through the eyes of love, which means that she wants to see him in the best possible light.

The third line, "Believe me, dear, that if I do not prove," shows that the speaker is making a promise to her lover. She is saying that if she does not prove her love to him, then he should not believe her. This line shows that the speaker is serious about her love and is willing to do anything to prove it.

In the fourth line, the speaker says, "I lose a soul's worth." This line is a powerful statement that suggests that the speaker's love is priceless. The use of the word "soul" suggests that the speaker's love is not just superficial, but it comes from a deep place within her.

The fifth line, "Yet dare I not to glory in thy sight," suggests that the speaker feels unworthy of her lover's love. She is saying that even though she loves him deeply, she does not feel that she is worthy of his love. This line shows the speaker's vulnerability and adds to the depth of the poem.

The sixth line, "I'm nothing but a sighing satellite," is a powerful metaphor that suggests that the speaker is orbiting around her lover. The use of the word "sighing" suggests that the speaker is constantly yearning for her lover's love.

The seventh line, "To thee, dear, there is no more a sun," is a statement of the speaker's belief that her lover is the center of her universe. The use of the word "sun" suggests that the lover is the source of the speaker's light and warmth.

The eighth line, "And Venus sets ere Saturn rise begun," is a reference to the Roman gods of love and time. Venus is the goddess of love, while Saturn is the god of time. The use of these two gods suggests that the speaker's love is timeless and eternal.

The ninth line, "And, sad-crowned, Ay, and all night long," suggests that the speaker is in a state of sadness. The use of the word "crowned" suggests that the sadness is like a crown that the speaker wears. The line "Ay, and all night long" suggests that the sadness is constant and unending.

The tenth line, "I walk thus towards thee, and from thee, I long," suggests that the speaker is constantly walking towards her lover, but she also longs to be with him. The use of the word "long" suggests that the speaker's desire for her lover is intense and never-ending.

The eleventh line, "I dread us both, yet both belong to thee," suggests that the speaker is afraid of the intensity of her love for her lover. The use of the word "dread" suggests that the speaker is afraid of losing herself in her love for her lover. However, she also acknowledges that both she and her lover belong to each other.

The final line, "Be mine, then; - all my best! - thou lovest me!" is a powerful declaration of love. The use of the word "mine" suggests that the speaker wants her lover to belong to her. The phrase "all my best" suggests that the speaker is giving her lover all that she has to offer. The final line, "thou lovest me," suggests that the speaker's love is reciprocated, which adds to the power of the poem.

Interpretation of the Poem

The poem is a powerful declaration of love that showcases the depth of the speaker's emotions. The use of metaphors, such as the "sighing satellite" and the "crowned sadness," adds to the richness of the poem. The poem is a clear indication of the speaker's vulnerability and her willingness to give her all to her lover.

The poem is also a commentary on the power of love. The use of Roman gods suggests that the speaker's love is timeless and eternal. The poem suggests that love has the power to transcend time and space, and it can make the lover the center of the speaker's universe.

The poem is also a commentary on the complexities of love. The speaker is afraid of losing herself in her love for her lover, and she acknowledges that both she and her lover belong to each other. The poem suggests that love can be both beautiful and complicated, and it requires courage, vulnerability, and honesty.

In conclusion, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet "Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace" is a masterpiece that showcases her poetic skills and depth of emotions. The poem is a powerful declaration of love that is both beautiful and complicated. The use of metaphors and Roman gods adds to the richness of the poem, and the poem is a commentary on the power and complexities of love.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sonnet 39 - Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace is a classic poem written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This sonnet is a beautiful expression of love and admiration for the beloved. The poem is a perfect example of how love can inspire great poetry.

The poem begins with the speaker addressing the beloved, saying "Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace." The speaker is acknowledging the power and grace of the beloved, which is the reason for their love. The speaker is in awe of the beloved's power and grace, and this is evident in the way the poem is written.

The second line of the poem reads, "To look through eyes that love thee, mild and clear." The speaker is saying that they see the beloved through the eyes of love, which makes everything appear mild and clear. Love has a way of making everything seem better, and the speaker is expressing this sentiment in the poem.

The third line of the poem reads, "And with thy sweetest self my soul to fill." The speaker is saying that the beloved's sweetest self fills their soul. The speaker is expressing how much they love the beloved and how much they need them in their life.

The fourth line of the poem reads, "But though I love thee, yet I do not dare." The speaker is expressing their fear of expressing their love for the beloved. The speaker is afraid of rejection and is hesitant to express their feelings.

The fifth line of the poem reads, "Oh, lest thy heart should ever feel a care." The speaker is expressing their concern for the beloved's well-being. The speaker does not want to cause the beloved any pain or hurt.

The sixth line of the poem reads, "Love caused me to this fond alarm." The speaker is saying that love has caused them to be afraid and hesitant. Love has a way of making people vulnerable, and the speaker is expressing this vulnerability in the poem.

The seventh line of the poem reads, "Lest, while I sue, thy scorn should make me shamed." The speaker is expressing their fear of being rejected by the beloved. The speaker is afraid of being shamed and humiliated if the beloved does not reciprocate their feelings.

The eighth line of the poem reads, "And when thou triumphs, my heart shall be framed." The speaker is saying that if the beloved reciprocates their feelings, their heart will be filled with joy and happiness. The speaker is expressing their desire for the beloved to love them back.

The ninth line of the poem reads, "If thou deny, then shall I take my pains." The speaker is saying that if the beloved does not reciprocate their feelings, they will accept the rejection and move on. The speaker is expressing their resilience and strength in the face of rejection.

The tenth line of the poem reads, "And that excuseless fault of thy proud heart." The speaker is saying that if the beloved rejects them, it will be the fault of their proud heart. The speaker is expressing their belief that the beloved is too proud to love them back.

The eleventh line of the poem reads, "Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity." The speaker is saying that even if the beloved does not love them back, they will continue to love them for eternity. The speaker is expressing their unconditional love for the beloved.

The twelfth line of the poem reads, "But what if thou shouldst love, and love in vain." The speaker is expressing their fear of the beloved loving someone else. The speaker is afraid of being replaced by someone else.

The thirteenth line of the poem reads, "I fear too much thy blessing, lest I gain." The speaker is saying that they are afraid of being blessed by the beloved's love. The speaker is expressing their fear of being hurt and rejected.

The fourteenth line of the poem reads, "Still losing thee, I should not love again." The speaker is saying that if they lose the beloved, they will never love again. The speaker is expressing their belief that the beloved is the only one for them.

In conclusion, Sonnet 39 - Because thou hast the power and own'st the grace is a beautiful expression of love and admiration for the beloved. The poem is a perfect example of how love can inspire great poetry. The speaker is in awe of the beloved's power and grace, and this is evident in the way the poem is written. The poem expresses the speaker's fear of rejection and their unconditional love for the beloved. The poem is a beautiful expression of the power of love and the vulnerability it can create.

Editor Recommended Sites

Personal Knowledge Management: Learn to manage your notes, calendar, data with obsidian, roam and freeplane
Get Advice: Developers Ask and receive advice
Developer Painpoints: Common issues when using a particular cloud tool, programming language or framework
Dev Community Wiki - Cloud & Software Engineering: Lessons learned and best practice tips on programming and cloud
Flutter Book: Learn flutter from the best learn flutter dev book

Recommended Similar Analysis

Childe Roland To The Dark Tower Came by Robert Browning analysis
So Long by Walt Whitman analysis
Blackberrying by Sylvia Plath analysis
She Walks In Beauty by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
The Wind in the Hemlock by Sarah Teasdale analysis
MCMXIV by Philip Larkin analysis
Mac Flecknoe by John Dryden analysis
Have Me by Carl Sandburg analysis
she being Brand... (XIX) by e.e. cummings analysis
Elysium is as far as to by Emily Dickinson analysis