The Life and Times of Elizabeth Barrett Browning
             During the early nineteenth century, feminists were first coming out into the political forefront. Among them, Elizabeth Barrett Browning emerged as one the greatest woman writers of all time. She wrote of "social reform, for the rights of lower classes and women, and for the cause of Italian freedom (Chew 1403)." While many aspects and circumstances of life affected her work, she was also able to effect society in many ways.
             Elizabeth Barrett was born on March 6, 1806 in Durham, England. Her first published work was The Battle of Marathon, which she wrote at the age of only 12. "It was an epic of sorts consisting of 4 books (Untermeyer 798)." When she was only "15 years old she injured her spine and was confined to her London house on Wimpole Street (Untermeyer 798)." She remained confined in her room for six years and during that time she kept bust by writing poetry and letters. Between her fathers refusal to allow any of his children to marry and her beloved brother's tragic death from drowning she became a recluse.
             She remained a recluse until she was almost 40. "On May 20, 1845 she allowed Robert Browning to visit her after a protracted correspondence (Untermeyer 798)." "They then courted under the eyes of her jealous, tyrannical father until the eloped on September 12, 1846 (132)." They than moved to Italy where they lived one of the most celebrated happy romances of all time.
             Due to her poor health, she was weak physically. Hawthorne described her as being "a pale, small person scarcely embodied at all" (Benet's 132). Her ethereality of physical appearance "is reflected by the palpitation fervor and the unworldly tenderness and purity of her work" (Benet's 132).
             She wrote of many themes, most of which "were dictated by her broad humanitarian interests" (Ben...