English, asked by Tarun304, 1 year ago

I am having a doubt in the poem, IF THOU MUST LOVE ME written by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING. The theme of the poem is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. However, the poetess urges her lover not to love her for her looks, her smile, her gentle way of speaking,etc. This means that she is indirectly putting some conditions and is asking her lover to follow these conditions(the conditions are- not to love the poetess for her looks, her gentle way of speaking, her smile,etc.). Moreover, the poetess has asked her lover that if he cannot love her(poetess) on these conditions then he can leave her.

So the poetess has indirectly put some conditions and has asked her lover to follow them. Then how the theme of the poem is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE?

Answers

Answered by NeneAmaano

I guess you didn't get the right meaning.

The poetess asks her lover not to love her for her looks, manners, etc. because these are superficial things and they may fade away one day.

She asks her lover to love her only for the sake of love. She says if he can't love her unconditionally then he should leave her.

Tarun304: This answer is totally inappropriate. First understand the question and then answer it!

NeneAmaano: What's your doubt then?

Tarun304: As you have mentioned in your answer, IF HE CAN'T LOVE HER UNCONDITIONALLY THEN HE SHOULD LEAVE HER. This means that the poetess herself is putting some conditions on her lover. Then how the theme of the poem is UNCONDITIONAL LOVE?

NeneAmaano: Because she said that there is only one condition which she puts,i.e., love her only for the sake of love and for no other conditions

NeneAmaano: Unconditional in the sense that there is no condition on which her lover should judge her or love her but only love her because he loves her

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