'Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning

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Sonnets from the Portuguese1850VIGo from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand
Henceforward in thy shadow. Nevermore
Alone upon the threshold of my door
Of individual life, I shall command
The uses of my soul, nor lift my hand
Serenely in the sunshine as before,
Without the sense of that which I forbore-
Thy touch upon the palm. The widest land
Doom takes to part us, leaves thy heart in mine
With pulses that beat double. What I do
And what I dream include thee, as the wine
Must taste of its own grapes. And when I sue
God for myself, He hears that name of thine,
And sees within my eyes the tears of two.

Editor 1 Interpretation

An In-Depth Look at Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand"

As one of the most prominent female poets of the Victorian era, Elizabeth Barrett Browning made a lasting impact on the literary world through her thought-provoking and emotionally charged works of poetry. One of the most notable of these works is "Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand," a powerful and insightful piece that explores the complex nature of love and loss. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the depths of this sonnet, exploring its themes, imagery, literary devices, and more.

The Context of the Sonnet

Before we delve into the poem itself, it is important to consider the context in which it was written. "Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand" was written in the mid-19th century, a time when societal norms and expectations were rigidly defined, especially for women. Barrett Browning herself was a trailblazer in many ways, defying convention by pursuing her education and her writing career despite her family's disapproval. She was also a woman who experienced great love and great loss, having fallen in love with and married fellow poet Robert Browning despite her father's objections. In this sonnet, we can see echoes of these personal experiences, as well as a broader commentary on love and relationships in Victorian society.

The Structure of the Sonnet

"Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand" is a Petrarchan sonnet, consisting of fourteen lines divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines). The rhyme scheme of the octave is ABBAABBA, while the sestet has a more flexible rhyme scheme, typically CDCDCD or CDECDE. This structure is significant, as it allows Barrett Browning to explore a complex range of emotions and ideas within a tightly controlled format.

The Themes of the Sonnet

At its core, "Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand" is a poem about the complex nature of love and loss. The speaker of the poem is addressing a lover, telling them to leave her and forget about her. However, she also acknowledges that despite this separation, she will always carry a piece of their love with her. This theme of the lasting impact of love is further explored in the final lines of the poem, where the speaker suggests that even in death, she will remain connected to her lover.

Another theme that runs through this sonnet is the idea of power dynamics in relationships. The speaker of the poem is clearly in a position of vulnerability, pleading with her lover to stay despite knowing that it is not possible. This imbalance of power is further highlighted by the use of the imperative "Go from me" in the opening line. At the same time, however, the speaker also asserts her own strength and resilience, suggesting that she will "stand" even in the face of this loss.

The Imagery of the Sonnet

Throughout "Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand," Barrett Browning employs a variety of vivid and evocative imagery to convey the complex emotions and ideas at play. In the opening line, for example, the speaker compares her lover's departure to a ship sailing away, a powerful metaphor that suggests both distance and finality. Later in the octave, she uses the image of a bird that has lost its mate to further explore the theme of loss and grief.

In the sestet, the imagery shifts to focus on the speaker's internal world. She describes the way that her lover's memory will remain with her, "like a stain," even as she moves on with her life. This image of a stain is significant, as it suggests something that cannot be erased or forgotten. Finally, in the last lines of the poem, the speaker employs a striking image of two souls "mixed" together, suggesting a deep and lasting connection that transcends death itself.

The Literary Devices of the Sonnet

As a skilled poet, Barrett Browning uses a variety of literary devices to enhance the impact of "Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand." One of the most notable of these devices is enjambment, which is used throughout the poem to create a sense of fluidity and movement. By allowing lines to flow into one another, Barrett Browning creates a sense of the speaker's thoughts and emotions spilling out onto the page.

Another device that is used to great effect in this sonnet is repetition. The phrase "Go from me" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of urgency and desperation that underscores the speaker's emotional state. Similarly, the repetition of the word "yet" in the opening line and throughout the poem creates a sense of contradiction and conflict, as the speaker tries to reconcile her desire for her lover to stay with her knowledge that he must go.

The Conclusion of the Sonnet

In "Sonnet 06 - Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand," Elizabeth Barrett Browning crafts a powerful and emotionally charged exploration of love, loss, and the enduring nature of human connections. Through complex imagery, skilled use of literary devices, and tightly controlled structure, she creates a work of poetry that resonates with readers to this day. Whether read in the context of Victorian society or as a timeless meditation on the human condition, this sonnet remains a testament to Barrett Browning's skill and insight as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet 06, "Go from me. Yet I feel that I shall stand," is a classic piece of poetry that has stood the test of time. This sonnet is a perfect example of Browning's mastery of the sonnet form, and her ability to convey complex emotions through her words.

The sonnet begins with the speaker asking her lover to leave her, even though she knows that she will always stand by him. The speaker is torn between her desire to be with her lover and her fear of losing him. She knows that their love is strong, but she is also aware of the fragility of human relationships.

The first quatrain of the sonnet sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The speaker tells her lover to "go from me," but she also acknowledges that she will always stand by him. This paradoxical statement sets up the conflict that the speaker is experiencing. She wants her lover to leave, but she also wants him to stay.

In the second quatrain, the speaker describes her fear of losing her lover. She knows that their love is strong, but she is also aware of the fragility of human relationships. She is afraid that their love will not be enough to keep them together, and that they will eventually drift apart.

The third quatrain of the sonnet is perhaps the most powerful. The speaker acknowledges that her lover is the most important thing in her life, and that she cannot imagine living without him. She says that she would rather die than lose him, and that she will always stand by him no matter what.

The final couplet of the sonnet brings the poem to a close. The speaker tells her lover that she will always love him, even if he leaves her. She knows that their love is strong enough to survive anything, and that she will always stand by him.

Overall, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet 06 is a powerful and emotional piece of poetry. It is a perfect example of Browning's mastery of the sonnet form, and her ability to convey complex emotions through her words. The poem is a testament to the power of love, and the strength of human relationships. It is a classic piece of poetry that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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