Samantha B. channel firing essay

Elizabeth Barrett Browning has been described by the Longman Anthology as “the most celebrated woman poet of the Victorian era,” (1138). This justifies the reason for choosing Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s “Bertha in the Lane,” (53) from the Victorian Women Poets Anthology, to be added to the British Victorian Literature calendar for future semesters. Browning has an interesting biography and key elements from her life play out in her works. Because of this, her poems, especially “Bertha in the Lane,” are very versatile and could be presented in the canon for a few different topical focus points. “Bertha in the Lane” deals with key issues regarding Victorian ladies and gentlemen and gives insight into the portrayals of the female sex during the Victorian Era. Religion is a recurring theme in the poem as well, and allows the poem to be assigned to a day on the calendar dedicated to the topical focus point of religion and science.

During small and large group activities, the parallel between an author’s biography and the author’s work is an interesting topic to get discussion rolling. That being said, it would first be wise to go over some key facts of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s life in order to understand how this affects her poetry. Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s parents had twelve children, of which she was the oldest. Traditionally, this would have put her in the position to owe a great duty to her family after the death of her mother in 1828 when Browning was 22 years old. However, Browning suffered from her own great illness that prevented her from fulfilling this duty. Because she was not physically able to do much, she focused intensely on her writing. In 1840, the Barrett family was forced to deal with another tragedy: the death of her closest brother. She had a difficult and long struggle accepting this hardship. She married Robert Browning in 1846, against the wishes of her father who would not have any type of relationship with her after the marriage. These key points highlight the fact that Elizabeth Barrett Browning suffered many tragedies throughout her lifetime. According to Blain’s biography, “EBB understood death and mortality, and her poetry often explores new ways of assimilating this knowledge,” (43). However, none of this hindered Browning’s influential comedic writing style that is present in “Bertha in the Lane,” where Blain describes Browning as “not above poking a little fun at the vanities of the opposite sex. Or, indeed, at her own…” (43). The great many tragedies did not take a toll on her faith, either. She remained firm in her belief in God and this belief echoed throughout her works. Blain makes the remark that Elizabeth Barrett Browning believed “Religion was not separate from daily life, but religion and poetry were both felt to be higher orders of existence,” (43). Clearly, Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetry deals with important issues from her life and incorporates her beliefs into her work (Blain, 42-45)(Longman, 1138-1140).

A brief summary of “Bertha in the Lane” shows the significant parallel between Browning’s life and the poem. An older sister is sewing a wedding dress for a younger sister. The older sister has taken care of the younger sister since the death of their mother, and now the older sister is very near death. The responsibility of the older sister that has been brought on by the death of the mother resembles the responsibility that Browning was supposed to have after the death of her own mother, but was never capable of fulfilling. The speaker says, “Since our dying mother mild/ Said with accents undefiled/ ‘Child, be mother to this child,” (33-35). By the description of the dying sister, one can feel that she is weak. This weakness resembles Browning’s lifelong weakness from her own illness. It almost seems as if Browning were writing about herself in the poem by creating parallels to the very significant troubles in her life.

It is now time to turn to the topical focus point of Victorian ladies and gentlemen in relation to “Bertha in the Lane.” Many questions are fair game to open up discussion. How does Browning portray women? What is the relationship between women and men? What does this relationship say about the Victorian society? The poem opens by addressing a stereotype. The speaker says, “PUT the broidery-frame away/ For my sewing is all done,” (1-2). The fact that Browning opens up with this image is significant. There is a mocking tone to the poem, so it is as if Browning is throwing her own feelings into the work to knock down the stereotype of women as the sex that is responsible for completing such household tasks. The relationship between women and men is seen in the description of the younger sister. She is described as having “curls of gold,” (18). Her face is “a fair, fair face,” (19). She has “Larger eyes and redder mouth,” (20). Also significant is the instance where the speaker is describing what men desire in women. She says, “When he saw thee who are best/ Past compare, and loveliest,” (117-118). These examples illustrate yet another stereotype that women are only good for and judged by their looks. Again, because of the mocking tone of the poem it is suggested that Browning’s opinion is that the stereotype is ridiculous.

Moving on to religion and science, “Bertha in the Lane” is clearly an unaffected, pre-Darwinian piece that does not deal with the doubt of religion or with the belief in science at all. Browning’s speaker believes in God and examples of her belief are seen all throughout the poem. When referring to her dead mother, the speaker says, “Mother, mother, up in heaven,” (36). There is a reference to the book of Revelation through the use of “jasper sea,” (37). There are references to angels in lines 194 and 237. Clearly, religion is all throughout this poem. Even though the poem has a mocking tone, knowing Browning’s belief in God and the typical ideas that come out of her work, it is safe to conclude that Browning is not mocking religion in this piece, but that she is subtly placing her beliefs in the poem.

“Bertha in the Lane” is highly recommended to be included in the British Victorian Literature canon for subsequent semesters for the exact reasons that have been discussed. Browning’s life story is interesting and it is quite clear that she introduces aspect of her life into her works. The way that the relationship between men and women, or the portrayal of women, is seen in the poem, and the comical feeling of the work suggest that “Bertha in the Lane” is the perfect poem that gives one insight into the Victorian culture to understand some of the issues, and, more importantly, the literary response to those issues. Her poem is also important in determining the religious mindset of the Victorians before the complete turn upside down caused by Darwin’s works.