Elizabeth Barrett Browning interprets the provocative marble statue “The Greek slave” in her ekphrastic poem “Hiram Powers’ Greek Slave.” The sonnet describes a figure of a provocative, nude, and shackled woman, displayed on a pedestal. While most academics would suggest that Browning uses the image of chained woman to criticize slavery, however, upon closer reading, we can also find a significant amount of sexual imagery within the poem. Using many metaphors, Browning identifies the shame and persecution that women undergo when exploring their sexuality. By describing it as a crime, she illustrates that this system of repression needs to be broken up, and she calls for women to break free of these chains. In the final lines of the poem, Browning …show more content…
The usage of the word “strong” (13) is a metaphor for females who are openly embracing their sexuality. Society often persecutes or “strike and shame” (13) these women. Although these women go through quite the ordeal, Browning still defines them as “strong” (13) because she is demonstrating that embracing sexuality is the powerful thing to do. The use of the word "strong" (13) acts as both a form of praise for these women, as well as encouragement from Browning. The “thunders of white silence” (14) is an elaborate metaphor for both orgasm as well as giving in to cardinal pleasures. “Thunders” (14) signifies intense emotions or sensory overload because when there is thunder, you can’t hear anything else. The “white silence” (14) is a metaphor for pure emotions, white because it is pure and undiluted, silent because the noise of society doesn't influence it. Therefore, the “thunders of white silence” (14) represents overwhelming pure emotions, characteristics often attributed to sex and orgasm. Browning creates a shift of perspective here and emphasizes the idea that sexuality it not “anguish” (2) nor should it be “shackled” (3) but rather than it is overwhelming and pure. She finishes her poem off with the powerful word “overthrown” (14) representing not only the climax of sexual pleasure but also overthrowing the taboo of sex and embracing sexuality. The ending of the poem itself was the culmination of a struggle against the sexually repressive culture of the era being “overthrown” (14). By close reading the finals lines of this poem we can find many metaphors encouraging change in sexual attitudes as well as encouragement to seek out and embrace these