Sonnet Analysis- David Chen

Sonnets from the Portuguese 43: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight

For the ends of being and ideal grace.

I love thee to the level of every day’s

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.

I love thee freely, as men strive for right;

I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

I love thee with the passion put to use

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose

With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,

Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,

I shall but love thee better after death.

By: Elizabeth Browning

This is a classic petrarchan sonnet example, fitting in as close to perfect as you can get. The poem has an ABBAABBA octave and a stanza of six lines, sestet. The volta switches from depicting what boundaries of love she would go through, into the griefs and sorrows caused by love. Like many other sonnets, love and life is a primary focus as much of human life revolves around the duo. She seems to be solely devoted to this affection as the end tells of her unwavering love that cannot be stopped by death nor loss.