'XIV (If thou must love me, let it be for nought)' by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
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Sonnets From the Portuguese1850If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
"I love her for her smile--her look--her way
Of speaking gently,--for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of ease on such a day--"
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,--and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheek 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 may'st love on, through love's eternity.
Editor 1 Interpretation
XIV (If thou must love me, let it be for nought) by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like someone just exposed your deepest fears and insecurities? A poem that speaks directly to your soul and makes you question everything you thought you knew about love? That's how I felt when I first read XIV by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Browning is a known master of the sonnet form, and this poem is no exception. It is a Petrarchan sonnet, divided into an octave and a sestet, with the rhyme scheme ABBAABBA CDCDCD. The poem's theme is love, but not the kind of love that is based on superficial qualities or conditional expectations. Instead, it speaks to a love that is pure and unconditional, a love that is not motivated by anything other than the desire to love and be loved.
The Octave
The poem begins with a striking declaration: "If thou must love me, let it be for nought." This opening line immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a plea for honesty and transparency, a request that the speaker's potential lover not love her for any reason other than love itself.
As the octave continues, the speaker explains why she desires this kind of love. She does not want to be loved for her physical beauty, her social status, or her wealth. She does not want to be loved because it is expected of her, or because she has something to offer in return. She wants to be loved simply for who she is, flaws and all.
The speaker's vulnerability is palpable in these lines. She admits to being imperfect, to having faults that might make her unlovable in the eyes of others. But she still asks to be loved, not in spite of these imperfections, but because of them. She wants to be loved for her true self, and nothing else.
The Sestet
The sestet of the poem shifts the focus from the speaker's desires to the lover's responsibilities. The speaker asks her lover to love her "for love's sake only," and to be honest with her about the reasons behind their love. She doesn't want to be deceived or misled, to be given false hope or false promises.
But the speaker also recognizes that love is not always easy. It can be painful, and it can require sacrifice. She acknowledges that her lover may have to suffer for their love, to endure hardships and challenges that they did not expect. And yet, she still asks for this kind of love, because she believes it is worth it.
The final lines of the poem are among the most powerful. The speaker declares that if her lover cannot love her for nothing, if they cannot love her for who she truly is, then they should not love her at all. This is a bold statement, one that speaks to the speaker's strength and conviction.
Interpretation
So what does all of this mean? What is the poem really saying about love?
At its core, XIV is a poem about authenticity. It is a plea for honesty and transparency in relationships, a call to love someone for who they truly are, and not for any external qualities or expectations. The speaker wants to be loved for her true self, and she is willing to risk rejection and pain to achieve this kind of love.
But the poem is also about the power of love. It acknowledges that love can be difficult and painful, but it also suggests that it is worth it. The kind of love that the speaker desires is a transformative kind of love, one that has the power to change both the lover and the beloved. It is a love that is worth fighting for, no matter the cost.
Conclusion
As I read this poem, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the power of Browning's words. She captures the essence of love in a way that few other poets have been able to do. She speaks to the deepest desires and fears of the human heart, and she does so with a clarity and honesty that is both beautiful and inspiring.
XIV is a poem that will stay with me for a long time, a reminder of the kind of love that we should all strive for. It is a love that is pure and authentic, a love that is not based on superficial qualities or conditional expectations. It is a love that is worth everything, and nothing less.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
If thou must love me, let it be for nought, Except for love's sake only. Do not say "I love her for her smile—her look—her way Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought That falls in well with mine, and certes brought A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"— For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought, May be unwrought so. Neither love me for 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 may'st love on, through love's eternity.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "If thou must love me" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and powerful piece of literature that speaks to the heart of what love truly is. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.
The poem begins with a plea to the reader to love the speaker for love's sake only. The speaker warns against loving her for superficial reasons such as her smile, look, or way of speaking. These things may change over time, and if love is based solely on them, it may be unwrought. The speaker is asking for a deeper, more meaningful love that will endure through time.
The language used in the poem is simple yet powerful. The use of the word "nought" in the first line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. It is a word that means nothing or zero, and it emphasizes the idea that love should not be based on anything other than love itself. The repetition of the word "love" throughout the poem reinforces this idea and emphasizes the importance of true, pure love.
The imagery used in the poem is also significant. The speaker uses the metaphor of a "trick of thought" to describe the superficial reasons for love. This metaphor suggests that these reasons are fleeting and not substantial enough to base a lasting love on. The metaphor of "wiping my cheeks dry" is used to describe the act of comforting someone who is crying. The speaker warns against loving her for this reason because it is not a true indication of love. A person may stop crying and no longer need comfort, but true love endures beyond the need for comfort.
The theme of the poem is the idea of true, pure love. The speaker is asking for a love that is not based on superficial reasons or pity but is instead based on the essence of love itself. The poem suggests that true love endures through time and is not based on external factors that may change over time. The poem is a call to love deeply and meaningfully, to love for love's sake only.
In conclusion, Elizabeth Barrett Browning's "If thou must love me" is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the heart of what love truly is. The language and imagery used in the poem emphasize the importance of true, pure love that endures through time. The theme of the poem is a call to love deeply and meaningfully, to love for love's sake only. This poem is a classic piece of literature that will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.
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