How Do I Love Thee? by Elizabeth Barrett Browning Reflection

What does this passage from "How Do I Love Thee?" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning mean?

I love thee freely, as men strive for right. I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.

Answer:

The speaker does not hesitate to love and she loves with good intentions.

This passage compares the author's spirit of love with the nature of men. She loves as freely as men feel the need to be and do the right thing. It could be effortlessly natural or its effort does not matter because one has to be that way. She loves purely like the modest of men who do not pay heed to praise or pride.

The author could be perceived in two ways here. She either could be absolutely free-spirited to love or she enjoys being that way because there is no better feeling than being freely in love.

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