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Metaphors In Elizabeth Barrett Browning's Sonnet 43

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Elizabeth Barrett Browning, author of Sonnet 43, loves her husband more than a mere “I love you” could ever capture. In fact, Browning’s Sonnet 43 revolves solely around her love for him. Browning has written a plethora of poems, including this sonnet, which consists of fourteen lines. In Sonnet 43, Browning uses metaphors, imagery, and symbolism to present the amount of love she has for her husband. A metaphor in Sonnet 43, “I love thee to the level of every day’s most quiet need, by sun and candle-light,” (Browning) explains the fact that her love for her husband is a necessity. The sun allows all things to live, and “candle-light” represents a soothing comfort and pleasure presented by small things. Browning elaborating on the fact that her love is a necessity obviously presents the theme of love. Another metaphor, “I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach, when feeling out of sight,” (Browning) elaborates upon the depth of her needed love. Even when her love is not around, she stills loves him as much as her soul enables her to. Within these metaphors, Browning uses imagery. …show more content…

While it may be only one use, it is impactful. What requires the sun to live: Everything! For Browning to refer to her love for her husband the sun, is to say that it is her love for him that is keeping her alive. Then, calling her love a candle-light elaborates on the fact that her love is warm and comforting; furthermore, candle-lights are taken for granted. They seem like a regular commodity that all families have, but the point she is trying to get across is that she needs to be loving him. Browning’s use of imagery goes hand in hand with her use of symbolism throughout the

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