Elizabeth Barrett Browning — Poet

5 Reasons Why Elizabeth Barrett Browning Was Ahead Of Her Time.

From her progressive views on marriage to her thoughts on religion and beyond, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a woman ahead of her time.

Writer J.Jha
4 min readAug 27, 2022
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a 19th century English poet who is celebrated for her impressive writing prowess and her fearless advocacy for social reform. She is considered one of the most notable authors of the Victorian Era, and her work continues to be popular even today.

While Barrett Browning was undoubtedly ahead of her time in many ways, here are 5 reasons why she was truly ahead of her era.

1. She was a fiercely independent woman —

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Elizabeth Barrett Browning was a fiercely independent woman. In an era when women were expected to be submissive and obedient, Elizabeth defied the norms and carved out her own path. She was a gifted poet and writer, and used her talents to speak out against injustice. Elizabeth was also a passionate advocate for women’s rights, and she campaigned for the repeal of laws that discriminated against women.

2. She didn’t believe in the institution of marriage —

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Not only was she a gifted poet, but she also had progressive views on social issues like marriage. At a time when most women were expected to marry and have children, Barrett Browning believed that marriage was an outdated institution that limited women’s freedom and autonomy which I think is still true today.Though she was herself married, Barrett Browning did not believe in the institution of marriage and was critical of it in her writing.

3. She was an early feminist —

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Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an English poet and writer who is best known for her collection of love poems, “Sonnets from the Portuguese”. But what many people don’t know is that Browning was also an early feminist who spoke out against the societal norms of her time.

Born in 1806, Browning grew up in a time when women were expected to be submissive to their husbands and adhere to the strict gender roles of the day. But Browning rebelled against these expectations and wrote about topics that were considered taboo for women at the time, such as love, desire, and sexuality.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an early feminist who fought for women’s rights through her poetry. She was born in 1806 into a wealthy family, but she was also sickly and had to be home schooled. Her father discouraged her from reading and writing, but she developed a love for both anyway. In 1826, she published her first volume of poetry, which was anonymous.

In 1838, she married Robert Browning, another poet, which was against her father’s wish and they moved to Italy. They had a happy marriage, despite the fact that he was much less wealthy than she was. Elizabeth continued writing and publishing poetry, and she even started writing plays. In 1850, she published a collection of poetry called Sonnets from the Portuguese, which was very successful.

4. She was an abolitionist.—

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Elizabeth Barrett Browning was an outspoken opponent of slavery and a champion of human rights. She was influenced by her husband, the poet Robert Browning, who was also an abolitionist. Elizabeth’s poetry often tackled social issues, including slavery. In one of her most famous poems, “The Cry of the Children,” she brings attention to the plight of child slaves and advocates for their liberation.

Elizabeth’s work helped to raise awareness of the issue of slavery and helped to spur action against it. She is remembered as one of the most important voices of the abolitionist movement.

5. She was a pacifist —

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During her lifetime, Elizabeth was an outspoken critic of war and violence. She believed that humanity could progress and achieve greatness if we could find a way to live in peace. Her poetry reflected this belief, and she used her platform to call for an end to war and violence.

Sadly, Elizabeth passed away before she could see her dreams of peace come to fruition. But her words still resonate today and remind us of the importance of working towards a more peaceful world.

Barrett Browning’s belief in the power of love is evident in her writing. She believed that love could overcome all obstacles, including hatred and violence. Her poems reflect this belief, as they often portray love as a force that is stronger than anything else.

Barrett Browning’s work has inspired generations of writers and poets, who continue to be inspired by her message of love and compassion.

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Thanks for reading!😇

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Writer J.Jha

✍🏻Passionate writer | literature works & realities of life | Literary Explorer| Author Analysis | Literary Appreciation✍🏻 https://www.youtube.com/@JYOTI_JHA_