The Poetry Of Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning is remembered as the most significant female poet of the Victorian era for her ability to passionately blend feminine virtue with social activism, while maintaining a respectable reputation. Barrett Browning was a dedicated wife, mother, human rights advocate, and poet. She was a candidate to replace William Wordsworth in his position of poet laureate, and although she was not chosen, the reality that a female writer in 1850 was considered to speak as a national voice revealed her international popularity and genuine brilliance. In 1838, Barrett Browning received her first literary success through her publication of The Seraphim and Other Poems (Taplin 57). Five years prior, she had published a translation of Aeschylus’ …show more content…
Barrett Browning framed this work as a collection of translations to avoid biographical associations; her father prohibited any of his eleven children to marry. Additionally, she published a second edition of Poems which included “The Runaway Slave at Pilgrim’s Point.” Her poems that expressed her concerns about social issues resulted in a powerful response from her audience and inspired the political themes of her next work that she published in 1851, Casa Guidi Windows (Meem). Published in two parts, the poem revealed her interests in Italian politics (Meem). In 1857, Barrett Browning published the work that is considered to be her masterpiece, Aurora Leigh (Taplin 62). The poem emphasized feminine individuality by focusing on the woman as an artist (Taplin …show more content…
She moved back to London and further cultivated her relationship with Robert Browning. As a result of her father’s prohibition of marriage for his children, the couple moved to Italy in 1846 and secretly wed. Barrett Browning’s father ceased all communication with her after she abandoned London. The couple settled in Florence, Casa Guidi, where they had a child who they nicknamed “Pen.” After sixteen years of marriage and a lifetime of poor health, Barrett Browning died in her husband’s arms in 1861. Barrett Browning’s work has inspired generations of international poets. She was idolized by literary figures such as Emily Dickinson for her devotion to combining feminine sensibility with poetic aspiration (Taplin 66). In 1932, the feminist scholar Virginia Woolf urged her audience to renew Barrett Browning’s popularity (Taplin 66). The revival of the poet’s work finally occurred during the 1960’s feminist movement. Barrett Browning’s influences will remain everlasting for her devotion to morality, female empowerment, and human