Opposing gender views in Emerson's Give All to Love and Browning's Sonnet 43 The concept of love has long been a favorite topic of conversation among eminent male poets. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, however, the emergence of the poetess occurred. With the introduction of Queen Elizabeth, an initial path has now been opened for future female poets to share their views on the acclaimed topic of love. Due to this clash of ideas, conflicting opinions of two extremely different sexes could arise. Who better to discuss the topic of love than Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who expresses her ideas with an intelligence comparable to that of the best male poets, and Emerson, famous throughout the world for his touching opinions? In accordance with the long history of conflict between males and females, both Emerson's "Give All to Love" and Browning's "Sonnet 43" convey the pleasure that love brings, but while Emerson's poetry urges the maintenance of individualism in a relationship, Browning calls for a complete surrender to love. Ralph Waldo Emerson has a strong history of aggressive and "masculine" behavior. “We hear his grand and reassuring words, we feel his powerful charm… it is impenetrable” (Whicher 39). Emerson felt that it was necessary to always maintain his independence, never deviating from his personal choices. “He taught self-sufficiency and felt self-distrust, he worshiped reality and knew illusion, he proclaimed freedom and submitted to fate” (Whicher 40). While Emerson's self-confidence may have reflected a kind of machismo or frigidity, this attitude is simply Emerson's demonstration of his cool, laid-back charm: "Emerson is teaching his time-tested secret for insulating oneself from calamity: 'Live in the soul'" (Which... middle of paper... was discarded on a whim. Rather, it is something that will accompany you far beyond your years on this earth and throughout time. It is truly a gift and should not be treated in any other respect. Works Cited Magill, Frank. "Biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning." Patmore, Coventry. "Poems of Mrs Browning". Radley, Virginia. "Elizabeth Barrett Browning." Exploring Poetry-Gale Research (1972): p. Yannella, David. "Sly Thunder." Criticisms of poetry 18 (1982): 69-96.