Welcome to Poem of the Day – George Sand: A Desire by Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, one of the most prominent British poets of the Victorian era, is best known for her lyric poetry and her exploration of themes like love, religion, and social issues. In her poem To George Sand: A Desire, Browning directs her poetic voice to the French writer George Sand (the pen name of Aurore Dupin), whom she admired both as a literary figure and as a symbol of personal and artistic freedom. Through her vivid and passionate language, Browning expresses an intense desire for George Sand to transcend the earthly limitations of gender and become a figure of divine artistic power. This essay will delve into the themes of the poem, considering Browning’s portrayal of George Sand as an ideal of both intellectual and spiritual transcendence, as well as the broader implications of this vision in the context of British poetry and Victorian thought.
George Sand: A Desire
Thou large-brained woman and large-hearted man,
Self-called George Sand! whose soul, amid the lions
Of thy tumultuous senses, moans defiance
And answers roar for roar, as spirits can:
I would some mild miraculous thunder ran
Above the applauded circus, in appliance
Of thine own nobler nature’s strength and science,
Drawing two pinions, white as wings of swan,
From thy strong shoulders, to amaze the place
With holier light! that thou to woman’s claim
And man’s, mightst join beside the angel’s grace
Of a pure genius sanctified from blame
Till child and maiden pressed to thine embrace
To kiss upon thy lips a stainless fame.
George Sand: A Desire Explanation
At the heart of To George Sand: A Desire is a vision of George Sand as an embodiment of both intellectual and emotional strength. Browning refers to Sand as a “large-brained woman and large-hearted man,” which simultaneously elevates her as a transcendent figure who breaks free of traditional gender roles. In this formulation, Browning aligns Sand with both masculine intellect (“large-brained”) and feminine emotional depth (“large-hearted”), suggesting that Sand’s artistic and intellectual abilities represent a perfect union of qualities often seen as separate in Victorian society.
By addressing Sand as both a woman and a man, Browning underscores the idea that true genius and freedom are not bound by gender. In the mid-19th century, when women were often excluded from intellectual and creative spaces, Sand’s bold defiance of societal expectations was seen as revolutionary. Browning’s poem, then, can be read as an act of solidarity with Sand, as well as a tribute to her remarkable individuality. The “self-called George Sand,” Browning writes, is not merely an author but an icon of personal and artistic liberation, a woman who has asserted her right to define herself on her own terms.
In the opening lines of the poem, Browning paints a dramatic image of Sand’s inner world, which she describes as “amid the lions of thy tumultuous senses.” This metaphor of Sand wrestling with the forces of her own desires and passions positions her as both fierce and resolute, able to “moan defiance” and match the roar of the “lions” in her life. This image of inner conflict suggests that Sand’s greatness arises not from a life of ease or complacency but from her ability to confront and challenge the chaos and tumult of her emotions, her society, and her circumstances.
A Vision of Transcendence: The “Miraculous Thunder” and Angelic Grace
Browning’s desire for George Sand to transcend these earthly struggles and reach a state of pure artistic and spiritual grace is conveyed through the poem’s more mystical imagery. Browning wishes for “some mild miraculous thunder” to “run above the applauded circus,” invoking the image of divine intervention or a transformative moment that elevates Sand beyond the mundane world. The thunder represents a divine force that could awaken or unleash Sand’s full potential, pushing her to a new, higher state of being.
The imagery of thunder above a “circus” — a public spectacle — also evokes the idea that Sand’s greatness would overwhelm and transcend the ordinary world’s expectations. The “circus” could be interpreted as a metaphor for the societal pressures and distractions that often draw attention away from the inner life and the pursuit of higher truths. In this context, the thunder would signify a divine spark, drawing attention to the fact that the greatness of George Sand lies in her spiritual and intellectual capacities, rather than in her conformity to social norms.
Browning continues with the imagery of two “pinions, white as wings of swan,” emerging from Sand’s strong shoulders. The swan, a symbol of beauty, grace, and transcendence, is often associated with the divine in art and mythology. By giving Sand “wings of swan,” Browning imagines her ascending to a higher plane of existence, where her spiritual and artistic gifts would be visible to the world as a “holier light.” This angelic transformation suggests that Sand’s true power lies not in her physical being but in the purity and nobility of her intellectual and artistic nature.
The metaphor of wings also serves as a reminder of the freedom that Browning sees in Sand’s artistic and intellectual life. Sand, who has defied the expectations placed on women and artists in her time, is imagined as being liberated from the confines of her earthly existence, soaring toward an idealized state of artistic perfection. In this context, Browning is not simply admiring Sand’s intellectual power; she is calling for Sand to be recognized as a divinely inspired figure who embodies the ideal of artistic freedom.
The Desire for a “Stainless Fame”
The final part of the poem expresses Browning’s desire for George Sand to achieve an eternal and unblemished reputation, one that is untarnished by the prejudices of society. She writes:
“That thou to woman’s claim / And man’s, mightst join beside the angel’s grace / Of a pure genius sanctified from blame / Till child and maiden pressed to thine embrace / To kiss upon thy lips a stainless fame.”
Here, Browning envisions a fusion of Sand’s gendered identities (woman and man), culminating in an idealized and elevated vision of Sand that transcends conventional labels. By placing Sand beside the “angel’s grace,” Browning expresses a wish for Sand to be recognized as a figure of spiritual and intellectual purity, whose genius is free from any form of societal condemnation. This “pure genius” would not only be accepted by men, who might have once scorned or overlooked her because of her gender, but also by women, who could embrace her as a symbol of their own potential for greatness.
The image of “child and maiden” pressing to Sand’s embrace suggests that Browning’s ideal of Sand is one that is both nurturing and transformative. In this final vision, Sand’s fame is no longer just the recognition of her literary or artistic work; it is the acknowledgment of her as a spiritual and intellectual leader whose influence extends across all generations, transcending both time and gender. This “stainless fame” is a metaphor for the lasting legacy of a woman who, despite the challenges of her time, has left an indelible mark on the world.
Conclusion
In To George Sand: A Desire, Elizabeth Barrett Browning presents George Sand not only as an admired writer but as a symbol of artistic freedom and intellectual transcendence. Through vivid and powerful imagery, Browning envisions Sand as a figure who defies the constraints of her gender and society, rising to a state of purity and grace that makes her a model of both artistic and spiritual achievement. In portraying Sand as a “large-brained woman and large-hearted man,” Browning invites readers to reconsider the limitations placed on women in the Victorian era, offering a vision of artistic freedom that is unbound by gender or social norms.
As one of the most important figures in British poetry, Browning’s admiration for George Sand serves as a reflection of the broader Victorian concerns with individual freedom and the pursuit of intellectual and artistic excellence. Ultimately, To George Sand: A Desire is both a tribute to Sand’s remarkable accomplishments and a call for the recognition of women as powerful, creative forces in their own right. Through this poem, Browning creates a vision of transcendence — one that is as relevant to contemporary readers as it was in the 19th century.
