Summary

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

The sonnet sequence "Monna Innominata," translated as "unknown lady," unveils the voice of a silent muse from the past. Rossetti, with a brief preface, sets the stage by highlighting how figures like Dante’s Beatrice and Petrarch’s Laura, though immortalized in verse, never left personal accounts of their romantic experiences. In contrast, Elizabeth Barrett Browning did pen her love story into sonnets, yet her joyful narrative diverges from the tension-laden works of Dante and Petrarch. "Monna Innominata: A Sonnet of Sonnets" seeks to bridge this gap, bringing an unvoiced perspective to light.

Sequential Unity in Sonnets

The fourteen sonnets that compose "Monna Innominata: A Sonnet of Sonnets" form an intricately woven sequence. Each poem stands on its own, yet a narrative thread runs throughout, creating a cohesive whole. Rossetti herself emphasized this unity when she declined to have any individual sonnet from the sequence published separately. Her insistence that they be read as a single entity underscores the interconnectedness of the pieces. The subtitle, "A Sonnet of Sonnets," reflects more than just the literal count of sonnets or lines; it mirrors the Italian sonnet form in its progression and thematic evolution.

Structural Elegance of the Italian Sonnet

The Italian or Petrarchan sonnet is characterized by its bipartite structure, consisting of an eight-line octave and a six-line sestet. The octave typically follows an abbaabba rhyme scheme, introducing a dilemma or theme, while the sestet—with a flexible rhyme pattern—presents a resolution or counterpoint, often marked by a "volta," or turn, at the ninth line. Rossetti’s sequence echoes this structural design; the initial eight sonnets delve into the tension between divine and earthly affections. The ninth sonnet introduces a poignant shift, declaring the unattainable nature of the anticipated love.

The Duality of Love

Rossetti’s "Monna Innominata: A Sonnet of Sonnets" intricately explores the dual themes of romantic affection and divine love. In the opening quartet of sonnets, the focus remains solely on the earthly bond between lovers, portraying the anguish of separation (sonnet 1), the nostalgia of first meetings (sonnet 2), the allure of dreams over harsh realities (sonnet 3), and the boundless nature of love (sonnet 4). The subsequent sonnets introduce a spiritual dimension, culminating in an allegorical reference to Esther from the Bible in sonnet 8, suggesting the supremacy of divine love.

Journey Toward Reconciliation

Sonnets nine through twelve chart a path towards reconciliation, which reaches its zenith in the penultimate sonnet, where the speaker surrenders her earthly claims to love. This act of renunciation signifies a profound transformation, aligning her desires more closely with spiritual ideals. However, the concluding sonnet poignantly acknowledges that the earthly heartaches persist, despite the speaker’s professed transcendence. This resolution encapsulates the tension between human emotion and idealized spiritual resignation, a recurring motif in Rossetti's work.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Loading...