Guest Speaker on Aurora Leigh

We had a passage from Book III, line 302

Our group read over the passage, and overall, we were interested in the fact that it seemed to be very autobiographical for Elizabeth Barrett Browning herself. I liked how she spoke about how she felt urged to write in prose, as that is what the English public wanted to buy, and it was what they were interested in. Frankly, poetry was not appealing to the public. Aurora (and Barrett Browning) recognized that in order to earn money, she would need to write novels, encyclopedias, write for magazines, cookbooks, etc. Also, it is imperative to take note that Elizabeth Barrett Browning needed financial support from her husband, even though she wrote. She was concerned with holding up her name. She did not want to fall destitute.

In Book I, lines 304-312, we discuss the comparisons between the aunt and Aurora herself. I have never really noticed the similarities. Also, I hadn't thought of how Aurora's aunt creates a complex of how Aurora should behave as a woman. Her aunt also pops up in other passages, even when the subject is not about her aunt.

Another interesting point is how Barrett Browning does not focus on the overall "beauty" of everything. When she discusses babies, for example, she does not speak to the angelic nature or the babies, but rather she describes them with food on their faces and the other less beautiful aspects of beautiful babies.

Something we talked about in Frankenstein... the father wouldn't let any of his children marry perhaps because he was so hurt by the loss of his wife. Interesting point we've discussed...