Letter to Lizzie:
Dear Miss Lizzie ;
You will no doubt be surprised to receive a letter from one who is almost a total stranger to you, but I hope you will pardon me for my boldness when I tell you how truly, how deeply I love you. Perhaps prudence would dictate that I should, for the present, at least, withhold this confession, but my heart is impatient and will not be quieted until I have made you acquainted with its secret. I am aware that the suddenness of my passion may awaken the suspicion that it is only a shallow and transient feeling, but I am sure that you have won my whole heart, and what more could you do were those charms of yours, which have so easily captivated me, to shine before me for years? Love is not a vegetable that it must grow nor is it a thing of logic that it must depend upon sequences and conclusions; but it is a passion of the soul, which may, like thought, be born in an instant, especially in the presence of beauty and accomplishments such as you possess.
All I expect in answer to this, I fear, imprudent note, is some intimation that I may dare to hope that I do not live without hope. Give me but an opportunity to prove myself worthy of the infinite happiness which your love would bestow, and there is no impossibility I would not achieve to obtain it. Indeed, since the first night I saw you, the perfection and the constellation of charms that shine in your person have filled my heart and brain so full that I can do nothing but think of you all day and dream of you all night. I cannot imagine any happiness for myself in the future which is not identified with you.
If your heart is yet free, and if you do not find objections to answering this note, I entreat you to deal with me with the same direct frankness that I have used in addressing you.
I am, with great respect and devoted love,
Henry B—.
Character Commentary: This is a letter I received from a young man who happens to be now my lovely husband. I met Henry at a wedding years ago to celebrate his brother's marriage to one of my good friends, Charlotte. Henry approached me late that night after a couple of drinks and we had a nice long chat late into the night. I was wearing my favorite lilac dress. We talked for hours about the purpose of life, our shared love for poetry, and my family. He was such a gentleman. We eventually talked about Laura’s unfortunate circumstances that had taken place earlier that year. I really opened up to him about how that had been an extremely tough time for both Laura and me. It was surprising how he listened and related to similar difficulties with his brother. It was a refreshing conversation that replayed in my head for days. That's why I was so relieved when I received this letter from him just a couple of weeks later. Henry was very good with his words, which is partially why this letter swept me off my feet. I especially noticed when he wrote about the vegetables which was definitely a hint of what we talked about that night of the wedding in regards to the Goblin Market. That part especially meant so much to me cause I knew he was listening, and finding a man who listens is almost impossible these days. After I re-read this letter almost a million times and showed all of my friends, I wrote him back. We were married 8 months later. It was honestly love at first sight.
Editorial Commentary: Lizzie here is reflecting on the first love letter that was written to her by her now-husband Henry B. She tells us how much that letter truly meant to her and how he was very good with his words. This is an interesting love story because we can assume when Lizzie received this letter she was in her early twenties and the relationship moved quite fast for her two to be married just 8 months after meeting him for the first time. During this era, it wasn't uncommon for marriages to move this fast. Women were focused on finding a suitable man to take as her husband. Girls are practically trained and groomed since birth to find a husband. The social pressure placed on women during this time was unbelievable, which led to some women unfortunately getting married for the wrong reasons. Lizzie was very lucky to find a man who was in love with her, just as much as she was with him. I think it is very interesting to note that Henry hints that he was out of Lizzie's social status, that's why he practically begs her to give him a chance. I think this shows a lot of Lizzie's character of just how sweet and loving she truly is. She rises above this social stigma of class to go after what all women should go after, love. In his letter, Henry writes about Lizzie’s bright personality which I think reveals just how bubbly of a woman she really was. However, we can’t forget that when it comes down to it Lizzie stood up for herself and her sister in regards to the goblin men. She represents what we women should strive for. Smart, optimistic, humble, and brave. No wonder Henry was so infatuated with her.
Citation:
Susanna. “More Victorian Love Letters and the Basics of Postage Stamp Flirtation.” Susanna Ives, 2 June 2020, susannaives.com/wordpress/2012/03/more-victorian-love-letters-and-the-basics-of-postage-stamp-flirtation/.