Adequacy

By Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Sonnet
    Now, by the verdure on thy thousand hills,     Beloved England, doth the earth appear     Quite good enough for men to overbear     The will of God in, with rebellious wills!     We cannot say the morning-sun fulfils     Ingloriously its course, nor that the clear     Strong stars without significance insphere     Our habitation: we, meantime, our ills     Heap up against this good and lift a cry     Against this work-day world, this ill-spread feast,     As if ourselves were better certainly     Than what we come to. Maker and High Priest,     I ask thee not my joys to multiply,     Only to make me worthier of the least.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem, likely a sonnet, is a fervent and contrarian lamentation of the state of the world, addressing a higher power. The speaker's voice is that of a rebellious and disillusioned individual, questioning the benevolence of the divine in the face of human suffering and injustice. The poem's structure, with its 14 lines and consistent rhyme scheme, contributes to its sense of urgency and indignation. The meter, largely iambic, adds to the poem's emotional intensity, while the use of enjambment and caesura creates a sense of urgency and momentum. A structural turn occurs in the final couplet, where the speaker's plea shifts from one of protest to one of humility, asking the divine not to multiply their joys but to make them worthy of the least. This tonal shift underscores the speaker's recognition of their own limitations and the imperfections of the world, and serves to underscore the poem's central theme of the human condition. One precise observation is that the poem's use of the word least in the final line creates a sense of ambiguity and paradox, leaving the reader to ponder the nature of worthiness and the divine's response to human supplication.

Understanding the Sonnet

The sonnet is one of the most enduring and celebrated forms of poetry, known for its strict structure and profound themes. With a history spanning centuries, sonnets have been used to explore love, beauty, politics, and mortality, all within the confines of just 14 lines.

Sonnets are characterized by their precise form and rhyme scheme, which vary depending on the type of sonnet. Here’s a closer look:

  • Shakespearean (English) Sonnet: Composed of three quatrains followed by a final couplet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG. This form often builds a complex argument or narrative, culminating in a powerful closing statement.
  • Petrarchan (Italian) Sonnet: Divided into an octave (eight lines) and a sestet (six lines), with a typical rhyme scheme of ABBAABBA for the octave, followed by various patterns in the sestet such as CDECDE or CDCDCD. The octave usually presents a problem, with the sestet providing a resolution.
  • Meter: Sonnets are traditionally written in iambic pentameter, which gives the poem a rhythmic and melodic quality that enhances its emotional impact.

The sonnet’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to condense complex emotions and ideas into a small but potent package, making it a favorite form for poets seeking to explore profound themes with precision and elegance.