Shakespeare vs. Elizabeth Browning

 Shakespeare’s Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day Adresses Heartfelt Feelings of Love Like E. Browning’s How Do I Love Thee and is Romanticized Both Shakespeare and Elizabeth Browning have poems with a depth of love towards the audience for which they intended their poems. Shakespeare’s poem, also known as the Shakespearean Sonnet 18, holds meaning for lovers of the 21st century just as much as they did from the date of 1564-1616 when Shakespeare was alive. Both are sonnets and written to or for a person admired. Feelings of love and deep emotion are expressed. Both are Romanticized. That is they are written to be romantic and are inspired by love and romance. Shakespeare and Elizabeth Browning’s poem has tone, images and symbolism. Shakespeare’s “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day,” adresses heartfelt feelings of love like E. Browning’s “How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways,” and is Romanticized. The images for Shakespeare and Elizabeth Barrett Browning are few. Whereas, Shakespeare compares his love to a “summer’s day.” (1) Elizabeth Barrett Browning uses ways in which she loves things about Robert. She also includes images though. For example, she includes sun and then compares candlelight. First, Shakespeare says, “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? , / Thou (you) are more lovely and more temperate.” (1-2) Browning also mentions smiles and tears(13) which are positive images that explains just to the extent how much she loved Robert. *There is considerable images in both writing of poems that represent their love for their individual. In addition, Shakespeare’s poem, “Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day” focuses on the beauty of the person admired and bids a farewell and dedication to thee in the last line. Elizabeth Barrett Browning focuses on all the ways she loves Robert Browning including “depth, breadth and height.” (2) Saints are also mentioned. This refers to her belief in religious background. Death is a mile marker for Browning and I believe she mentions this because her love is so strong that even after death she feels no one could compare to him. Darling buds(3) are mentioned by Shakespeare. I think here Shakespeare is comparing his love to the blooms of spring/summer. The word choice for both poems are light-hearted, warm and insightful. They are a pleasure to read because they share the feelings they have towards their love. For instance, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poem talks about the number of ways in which she loved Robert Browning. Browning says, “I love thee freely, purely and with passion put to use.” (7,8,9) Though centuries apart, Elizabeth’s love for Robert was inspiration for her poems. Therefore setting the tone. In Shakespeare, he is addressing deep love as thee and says, “So long lives this, / and gives life to thee.” (14) Browning develops a reverence. Shakespeare’s poem could be an address to one or many. They are both romanticized and entitlements of love. The message of both poems are very interesting. There seems to be a a deep-deep reverence towards their love. The example of their depth being compared to a lovely summer’s day or a number of ways. The message seems to say, “I love you very much,” or “This is how much I love you.” The message is clear in both entitlements. Shakespeare uses illustrations and Browning uses examples. Each addresses heartfelt feelings and emotions to their love. In contrast, one focuses more on a summer’s day while the other has a list and compares their love to sun or candlelight. Shakespeare quote says, “And summer’s lease hath all too short a date, / Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines” (4-5) therefore giving personification into a summer’s day as if it were a person. Browning’s poem is my literal and normal but descriptive and sweet. Each are a great example for the era of love and romance.