The Opposing Views on Gender in Emerson's Give All to Love and Browning's Sonnet 43 The concept of love has long been a favorite topic of conversation among prominent male poets. Towards the end of the 16th century, however, the emergence of the woman poet took place. With the arrival of Queen Elizabeth, a first avenue was now opened for future women poets to share their views on the acclaimed theme of love. Due to this clash of ideas, the conflicting opinions of two extremely different sexes could come to the fore. Who better to address the theme of love than Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who expresses her ideas with an intelligence comparable to the best male poets, and Emerson, known worldwide for his poignant opinions? Consistent with the long history of conflict between men and women, Emerson's "Give All to Love" and Browning's "Sonnet 43" convey the pleasure that love brings, but while Emerson's poem calls for the maintenance of individualism in a relationship, Browning argues for total surrender to love. Ralph Waldo Emerson has a strong history of aggressive and "masculine" behavior. “We hear his grand and reassuring words, feel his powerful charm…he is inscrutable” (Whicher 39). Emerson believed it was necessary to maintain one's independence at all times, never deviating from one's personal choices. “He taught self-reliance and distrusted himself, worshiped reality and knew illusion, proclaimed freedom and submitted to destiny” (Whicher 40). Although Emerson's confidence in himself may have reflected a kind of machismo or frigidity, this attitude is simply Emerson's demonstration of his calm, relaxed charm: "Emerson teaches his proven secret to protecting himself from calamity: ' Living in the soul'" (Which... middle of paper... is thrown out on a whim. Rather, it is something that will accompany you well beyond your years on this earth and through all the time. It really is a gift and it should not be treated in any other light. Works CitedMagill, Frank. "Biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning." 394-396.Mermin, Dorthy "Sonnets from the Portuguese". Patmore, Coventry. “Poems of Mrs. Browning.” North British Review 26 (1857): 446-447. Perry, Bliss “Emerson Today.” Radley, Virginia. “Elizabeth Barrett Browning.” Exploring Poetry-Gale Research (1972): p. 5. Whicher, Stephan E. "Emerson's Tragic Sense", a collection of critical essays (1962): 39-45. Yannelle, David. “Clever thunder.” Poetry reviews 18 (1982): 69-96.

Essay / The Opposing Views on Gender in Emerson's Give All to Love and Browning's Sonnet 43 The concept of love has long been a favorite topic of conversation among prominent male poets. Towards the end of the 16th century, however, the emergence of the woman poet took place. With the arrival of Queen Elizabeth, a first avenue was now opened for future women poets to share their views on the acclaimed theme of love. Due to this clash of ideas, the conflicting opinions of two extremely different sexes could come to the fore. Who better to address the theme of love than Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who expresses her ideas with an intelligence comparable to the best male poets, and Emerson, known worldwide for his poignant opinions? Consistent with the long history of conflict between men and women, Emerson's "Give All to Love" and Browning's "Sonnet 43" convey the pleasure that love brings, but while Emerson's poem calls for the maintenance of individualism in a relationship, Browning argues for total surrender to love. Ralph Waldo Emerson has a strong history of aggressive and "masculine" behavior. “We hear his grand and reassuring words, feel his powerful charm…he is inscrutable” (Whicher 39). Emerson believed it was necessary to maintain one's independence at all times, never deviating from one's personal choices. “He taught self-reliance and distrusted himself, worshiped reality and knew illusion, proclaimed freedom and submitted to destiny” (Whicher 40). Although Emerson's confidence in himself may have reflected a kind of machismo or frigidity, this attitude is simply Emerson's demonstration of his calm, relaxed charm: "Emerson teaches his proven secret to protecting himself from calamity: ' Living in the soul'" (Which... middle of paper... is thrown out on a whim. Rather, it is something that will accompany you well beyond your years on this earth and through all the time. It really is a gift and it should not be treated in any other light. Works CitedMagill, Frank. "Biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning." 394-396.Mermin, Dorthy "Sonnets from the Portuguese". Patmore, Coventry. “Poems of Mrs. Browning.” North British Review 26 (1857): 446-447. Perry, Bliss “Emerson Today.” Radley, Virginia. “Elizabeth Barrett Browning.” Exploring Poetry-Gale Research (1972): p. 5. Whicher, Stephan E. "Emerson's Tragic Sense", a collection of critical essays (1962): 39-45. Yannelle, David. “Clever thunder.” Poetry reviews 18 (1982): 69-96.

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