'Consolation' Summary

Consolation by Elizabeth Barrett Browning is a collection of poems that explore the themes of grief, loss, and hope. The poems were written after the death of her brother, Edward, in 1840.

Browning's poems are both personal and universal. She writes about her own experiences of grief, but she also speaks to the shared human experience of loss. Her poems offer comfort and support to those who are grieving, and they remind us of the power of love and hope to overcome even the deepest sorrow.

In the poem "Consolation," Browning writes:

I know a voice would sound,

'Daughter, I AM. Can I suffice for Heaven and not for earth?'

I would reply—Thou art enough!

Though not to fill the whole emprize

Of life with joy—and oh! to lose

Thy love, were living death to me—Yet doth thy love possess my soul,

My God, and fill it with thy peace.

In this poem, Browning is speaking to God, and she is expressing her gratitude for His love and support, even in the midst of her grief. She knows that she can never fully replace the love that she lost with the death of her brother, but she also knows that God's love is enough to sustain her.

Another poem in the collection, "Bereavement," explores the theme of grief from a different perspective. In this poem, Browning writes about the feeling of being lost and alone after the death of a loved one. She writes:

I do not think of thee but with a smile,

My brother, as a child.

I cannot but remember thou art gone

Into the land of light and life alone;

But when I think of thee, I cannot weep,

And yet my heart is very, very deep.

In this poem, Browning is expressing the conflicting emotions that she feels after the death of her brother. She is filled with sadness and grief, but she also feels a sense of peace and hope. She knows that her brother is in a better place, and she is grateful for the time that they had together.

Consolation is a collection of poems that offers comfort and support to those who are grieving. Browning's poems are beautifully written and deeply moving. They remind us of the power of love and hope to overcome even the deepest sorrow.

Essence and spirit of the book:

The essence and spirit of Consolation is one of hope and resilience. Browning's poems show us that it is possible to find comfort and healing even in the darkest of times. Her poems remind us of the power of love, faith, and the human spirit.

Conclusion:

Consolation is a must-read for anyone who has ever experienced loss. Browning's poems offer comfort and support, and they remind us that we are never truly alone.