Poem Overview

Aspect	Details
Poem Title	Sonnet 9
Poet	Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Collection	Sonnets from the Portuguese
Poem Type	Petrarchan Sonnet
Central Idea	The speaker’s struggle between deep love and feelings of unworthiness

Can it be right to give what I can give?
To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears
As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years
Re-sighing on my lips renunciative
Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live
For all thy adjurations? O my fears,
That this can scarce be right! We are not peers,
So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,
That givers of such gifts as mine are, must
Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!
I will not soil thy purple with my dust,
Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,
Nor give thee any love—which were unjust.
Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.

Poem Summary

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 9, part of her collection Sonnets from the Portuguese, delves into the speaker’s inner turmoil regarding her love for her suitor.

The poem opens with the speaker questioning whether it is right for her to offer her love, considering the immense sorrow and emotional burden she carries. She describes her tears and sighs, indicating that her love comes with a lot of pain and suffering

The speaker expresses doubt about whether it is fair to subject her beloved to such a distressing relationship. She believes that they are not equals, or “peers,” and thus should not be lovers.

This perceived inequality causes her grief, as she feels that what she has to give—her sorrow and infrequent smiles—is not enough and might even be harmful to him.

In the first tercet, the speaker acknowledges that her gifts, which are essentially her pain and tears, make her seem ungenerous. She laments that she cannot offer anything of value and fears that her lowly state might tarnish her beloved’s higher status, likening him to royalty.

The second tercet continues this theme of self-deprecation, with the speaker comparing her presence to dust that would soil her beloved’s “purple,” a color associated with nobility. She also likens herself to poison that could contaminate his purity, represented by a delicate

“Venice-glass.” Ultimately, she resolves not to give him her love, recognizing that it would be unjust.

However, in a dramatic reversal, the speaker admits her deep love for him in the final line, asking him to forget her previous protestations. She wants him to “let it pass,” indicating her true desire for him to stay despite all the reasons she has given for why he should leave.

This sonnet captures the intense conflict between love and self-doubt, illustrating the speaker’s struggle to reconcile her feelings of unworthiness with her profound love for her suitor.

Through this introspective and emotionally charged poem, Browning explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the complexities of human emotions.

Line by Line Explanation

“Can it be right to give what I can give?”

Is it fair for me to offer what little I have to give?

“To let thee sit beneath the fall of tears”

To make you sit and endure my constant crying.

“As salt as mine, and hear the sighing years”

My tears are as salty as yours, and you would have to listen to my sad sighs over the years.

“Re-sighing on my lips renunciative”

I keep sighing in a way that shows I have given up on happiness.

“Through those infrequent smiles which fail to live”

I rarely smile, and even when I do, my smiles don’t last.

“For all thy adjurations? O my fears,”

Despite all your efforts to make me happy, my fears remain.

“That this can scarce be right! We are not peers,”

It doesn’t seem right because we are not equals.

“So to be lovers; and I own, and grieve,”

Therefore, we should not be lovers; I admit this and it makes me sad.

“That givers of such gifts as mine are, must”

People who can only offer what I can,

“Be counted with the ungenerous. Out, alas!”

Must be seen as unkind and stingy. Oh, how sad!

“I will not soil thy purple with my dust,”

I don’t want to dirty your noble status with my lowly one.

“Nor breathe my poison on thy Venice-glass,”

I don’t want to taint your purity with my negativity.

“Nor give thee any love—which were unjust.”

I shouldn’t give you my love because it wouldn’t be fair.

“Beloved, I only love thee! let it pass.”

My dear, I truly love you! Please ignore everything I’ve said and let it go.

This poem is about the speaker doubting whether her love is worthy of her beloved, feeling that she doesn’t have enough to offer and might even be a burden. However, despite her doubts, she ultimately admits her deep love for him and wishes he would stay.

Themes

Love and Self-Doubt: The poem explores the speaker’s deep love for her beloved contrasted with her profound self-doubt. She questions whether she is deserving of her beloved’s affection and whether it is fair to burden him with her emotional struggles. This theme highlights the vulnerability and insecurity that often accompany intense feelings of love.

Inequality and Social Status: The speaker reflects on the perceived inequality between herself and her beloved. She feels they are not “peers” due to differences in social status or personal worthiness. This theme underscores the societal norms and expectations that influence personal relationships, as well as the internalized feelings of inadequacy that can arise from perceived social disparities.

Sacrifice and Selflessness: Throughout the poem, the speaker grapples with the idea of sacrifice and selflessness in love. She considers withholding her love to protect her beloved from potential harm, believing that her own sorrow and shortcomings could detract from his happiness. This theme explores the complexities of sacrificing personal desires and needs for the sake of someone else’s well-being.

Introspection and Inner Conflict: Sonnet 9 is characterized by deep introspection and inner conflict within the speaker. She wrestles with her own emotions, fears, and doubts, revealing a complex inner world shaped by her love and insecurities. This theme underscores the human experience of grappling with conflicting emotions and the struggle to reconcile one’s inner turmoil.

Desire for Connection and Belonging: At its core, the poem expresses a profound longing for connection and belonging. Despite her doubts and fears, the speaker ultimately desires to be loved and accepted by her beloved. This theme explores the universal human need for emotional intimacy and the search for validation through meaningful relationships.

Through these themes, Elizabeth Barrett Browning crafts a deeply emotional and introspective sonnet that resonates with readers by exploring the complexities of love, self-perception, and societal expectations.