ElizabethBarrett Browning became a well-known poet before she met her future
husband Robert Browning in 1845. Before that time, she had been an invalid and a
recluse. Although her father was vehemently opposed to their marraige, 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.
In line one and the first part of line two, Browning states that if he is to lover her,
she hopes that her husband loves her for no other reason than for love itself. In the latter
part of line two through line six, she states that she does not want to be loved for her
smile, look, way of speaking, or for a similar trick of personality that would make her easy
to be with. In line seven and the earlier part of line eight, she explains that all of the
before mentioned things could change, at least in his eyes. in the latter part of line eight
and line nine, she points out that since these may be changed, love that is for these may
change also. in the latter part of line nine and line ten, she expresses her wish for her
husband not to love her for pity. In lines eleven and twelve, she says that he may forget to
pity her and loose his love. In lines thirteen and fourteen, she says to love her "for love's
sake" so that he can love her forever. Browning does not use many images or figures of
speech in this work to make of the poem clear and simple.
This poem is written in the form of a love sonnet. The rhyme scheme implemented
is ABBA ABBA CDCDCD. There are ceasuras and pauses throughout the poem to make
the rhythm regular and to separate thoughts and keep the meaning clear. There is
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