Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning

This blog task is assigned by Prakruti Bhatt Ma'am (Department of English, MKBU).

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Source: DALL·E 3 - Representational
Alfred, Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning walking together along a misty, autumnal path, both wearing top hats and coats.

Q.-1.|Justify Tennyson as the representative literary figure of the Victorian Era.

Ans.

Video on How Tennyson Grieves In Poetry on YouTube/Nerdwriter1: Click here.

Carbon print by Elliott & Fry, late 1860s

1. Introduction

The Victorian Era (1837–1901), marked by Queen Victoria's reign, was a period of profound transformation in British society. Rapid industrialization, scientific advancements, and shifting social values defined this epoch, creating both a sense of progress and deep anxieties about the future. Amid this backdrop, Alfred, Lord Tennyson emerged as a literary colossus, articulating the hopes, fears, and contradictions of his age. This answer explores how Tennyson’s poetic mastery, thematic depth, and public role as Poet Laureate make him the quintessential representative of the Victorian Era.

2. Tennyson’s Literary Qualities

Tennyson’s poetry epitomizes Victorian ideals through its linguistic beauty and technical sophistication. His command of form, rhythm, and imagery enabled him to craft works that resonated with a broad audience. In 'The Charge of the Light Brigade,' his use of repetition and meter captures the galloping pace of cavalry into battle:

"Half a league, half a league,

Half a league onward,

All in the valley of Death

Rode the six hundred."

This mastery of rhythm not only immortalized the heroism of soldiers in the Crimean War but also reflected Victorian ideals of duty and sacrifice. Tennyson’s evocative imagery, as seen in 'The Lotos-Eaters,' illustrates his ability to balance beauty and melancholy:

“In the afternoon they came unto a land

In which it seemed always afternoon.”

Here, the languid atmosphere mirrors Victorian escapist tendencies, as society grappled with rapid industrialization and its alienating effects.

3. Themes and Historical Context

Tennyson’s themes often mirrored the cultural and historical concerns of his time. His magnum opus, 'In Memoriam A.H.H.,' written in response to the death of his close friend Arthur Hallam, encapsulates the Victorian struggle with faith and doubt. Addressing the challenges posed by Darwin’s theory of evolution and shifting religious paradigms, Tennyson wrote:

“There lives more faith in honest doubt,

Believe me, than in half the creeds.”

This line reflects a Victorian wrestling with spiritual uncertainty, presenting doubt not as weakness but as a stepping stone toward deeper understanding.

The rise of industrialization also found its echoes in Tennyson’s poetry. In 'Locksley Hall,' he addresses the technological optimism of his age while cautioning against its potential dehumanizing effects:

“For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,

Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be.”

His ambivalence captures the Victorian oscillation between progress and its unintended consequences.

4. Tennyson’s Personal Life and Influence

Tennyson’s personal experiences deeply informed his work, resonating with a society preoccupied with grief and existential questions. His bouts of depression and lifelong mourning for Hallam permeate 'In Memoriam.' Victorians, grappling with high mortality rates and shifting spiritual beliefs, found solace in his meditations on death and the afterlife:

“Be near me when my light is low,

When the blood creeps, and the nerves prick

And tingle; and the heart is sick,

And all the wheels of Being slow.”

Queen Victoria herself found comfort in Tennyson’s poetry, famously declaring 'In Memoriam' a source of consolation after Prince Albert’s death. This personal connection with the monarch further cemented his position as a voice for his era.

5. Poet Laureate and Public Role

As Poet Laureate from 1850 until his death in 1892, Tennyson wielded his literary influence to celebrate national events and reflect on British identity. 'The Charge of the Light Brigade' exemplifies this role, glorifying British heroism despite the strategic blunder it commemorates:

“Theirs not to make reply,

Theirs not to reason why,

Theirs but to do and die.”

Similarly, in 'Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington,' Tennyson lauds the military and political achievements of one of Britain’s greatest heroes, reinforcing Victorian ideals of patriotism and honor.

6. Tennyson’s Treatment of Mythology

Tennyson’s engagement with mythology, especially in 'Idylls of the King,' reflects Victorian concerns about morality, heroism, and national identity. Retelling Arthurian legends, he casts King Arthur as a Christ-like figure, embodying the ideals of chivalry and leadership. In 'The Passing of Arthur,' the king’s death becomes an allegory for the decline of moral and spiritual certainties in an industrial age:

“The old order changeth, yielding place to new,

And God fulfills himself in many ways.”

This line underscores the Victorian preoccupation with continuity amid upheaval, aligning the mythical past with contemporary anxieties.

7. Comparison with Contemporaries

While contemporaries like Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning tackled similar themes, Tennyson’s works uniquely captured the collective consciousness of the Victorian era. Where Browning’s dramatic monologues delve into individual psyches, Tennyson’s poetry speaks to broader societal concerns, making him a unifying figure. Charles Dickens’s novels also reflect Victorian struggles, but Tennyson’s lyricism offers a more introspective counterpoint to Dickens’s social realism.

8. Tennyson’s Legacy

Tennyson’s influence extends beyond the Victorian Era, shaping subsequent generations of poets and writers. His exploration of universal themes—love, loss, faith, and identity—ensures his relevance even in contemporary discourse. Poems like 'Ulysses' continue to inspire readers with their celebration of resilience and aspiration:

“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

This enduring appeal underscores Tennyson’s ability to transcend his historical context while remaining firmly rooted in it.

9. Conclusion

Alfred, Lord Tennyson stands as a literary titan who encapsulated the spirit of the Victorian Era. Through his poetic brilliance, thematic depth, and public role as Poet Laureate, he gave voice to the values, struggles, and aspirations of his time. His works continue to resonate with modern readers, affirming his place as not only a representative figure of his age but also a timeless poet whose insights into the human condition remain profoundly relevant.

Q.-2.|Pick a poem written by Robert Browning and discuss its thematic concerns.

Ans.

Portrait by Herbert Rose Barraud, c. 1888

Video Lecture on Robert Browning on YouTube/Vidya-mitra: Click here.

Video summary of My Last Duchess on YouTube/GradeSaver: Click here.

1. Introduction

Robert Browning’s 'My Last Duchess' (1842) is a masterful dramatic monologue that offers a penetrating exploration of power dynamics, jealousy, and the objectification of women. Set against the backdrop of the Victorian Era, the poem reflects the period’s complex attitudes toward gender, class, and authority. By delving into the psyche of the Duke of Ferrara, Browning critiques the moral decay of the aristocracy and sheds light on broader societal issues. This answer will analyze the thematic concerns of the poem, focusing on jealousy, power, morality, and gender dynamics, while examining how Browning’s use of language, structure, and imagery enhances these themes.

2. Thematic Concerns in 'My Last Duchess'

2.1. Jealousy and Power

The Duke’s speech in 'My Last Duchess' is a chilling testament to his desire for control and his consuming jealousy. The Duke laments the Duchess’s supposed lack of exclusivity in her affections:

“She had

A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad,

Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er

She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.”

Here, the Duke’s jealousy is not triggered by infidelity but by the Duchess’s joy in life’s simple pleasures. His aristocratic entitlement cannot tolerate her cheerful egalitarianism, which he views as a slight against his status. The line

"as if she ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift"

highlights his belief that his title alone should command her complete deference. Browning critiques this egotistical need for dominance, exposing the moral corruption inherent in unchecked power.

The Duke’s ultimate assertion of control—his implied orchestration of the Duchess’s death—is both horrifying and revealing. His cold confession,

“I gave commands;

Then all smiles stopped together,”

underscores the dehumanizing effects of his authoritarian mindset. The Duke wields power with ruthless precision, turning even life and death into tools for preserving his authority.

2.2. Objectification of Women

Browning portrays the Duchess as a victim of the Duke’s objectification, reduced to a mere possession in both life and death. Her portrait, prominently displayed yet carefully controlled, symbolizes this dynamic:

“That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,

Looking as if she were alive.”

The Duke’s pride in the painting reveals his desire to freeze the Duchess in time, transforming her into an object of his sole ownership. Unlike the living Duchess, whose smiles and glances were beyond his control, the portrait is entirely subject to his will. He decides who may view it, stating,

“none puts by

The curtain I have drawn for you, but I.”

This treatment of the Duchess as an object critiques the Victorian patriarchy, which often relegated women to subordinate roles. Browning uses the Duke’s behavior to underscore the dangers of viewing women as possessions, highlighting the broader societal issues of gender inequality and the lack of agency afforded to women in both marriage and public life.

2.3. Morality and Corruption

The Duke’s narrative in 'My Last Duchess' exposes his moral depravity and the broader corruption of the aristocratic class. His casual tone when discussing the Duchess’s demise suggests an alarming lack of remorse:

“Will’t please you sit and look at her?”

By juxtaposing this mundane invitation with the horrific implications of his earlier confession, Browning emphasizes the Duke’s moral detachment. The Duke’s seamless transition from discussing the Duchess to arranging his next marriage reveals his view of relationships as transactions, devoid of emotional depth.

This lack of morality reflects not just the Duke’s personal failings but also the broader flaws of the aristocracy. Browning critiques a social system that prioritizes power and status over ethical behavior, using the Duke as a microcosm of Victorian-era class hierarchies.

2.4. Art and Representation

The Duchess’s portrait plays a central symbolic role in the poem, embodying the Duke’s obsession with control and representation. By commissioning the portrait and curating its display, the Duke transforms the Duchess into a passive object, stripped of her autonomy.

This act of turning life into art serves as a metaphor for the Victorian fixation on appearances and social performance. The Duke’s manipulation of the portrait reflects how art can be wielded as a tool of control, perpetuating specific narratives while silencing dissenting voices. Browning’s critique extends beyond the personal to the societal, questioning the ethics of using art to enforce power dynamics.

3. The Dramatic Monologue: A Lens into the Duke’s Psyche

Browning’s use of the dramatic monologue form in 'My Last Duchess' is key to the poem’s impact. By allowing the Duke to speak directly, Browning creates a compelling psychological portrait that reveals more than the Duke intends.

The Duke’s language is meticulously crafted to project authority and refinement, yet it inadvertently exposes his insecurity and cruelty. Phrases like

“how shall I say?”

and his careful attention to rhetorical flourishes suggest an obsession with control even in conversation. The iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets lend a sense of order and polish, reflecting the Duke’s desire for mastery, while the enjambment creates a tension that mirrors his volatile emotions.

This interplay between form and content enhances the reader’s understanding of the Duke’s character, making the poem a rich study in human psychology and the destructive effects of power.

4. Historical and Social Context

4.1. Victorian Power and Gender Dynamics

Written during the Victorian Era, 'My Last Duchess' reflects contemporary attitudes toward gender and class. Victorian marriages often involved significant power imbalances, with women expected to conform to societal ideals of obedience and passivity. The Duke embodies these patriarchal expectations, treating the Duchess as an extension of his status rather than a partner.

Browning’s critique of these dynamics is subtle yet incisive. By giving the Duke a voice, Browning allows readers to see the hypocrisy and cruelty underlying aristocratic authority. The poem thus serves as a broader commentary on Victorian social hierarchies and the objectification of women within them.

4.2. Comparisons with Other Works by Browning

'My Last Duchess' shares thematic and stylistic similarities with other dramatic monologues by Browning, such as 'Porphyria’s Lover.' In both poems, Browning explores the intersection of love, power, and violence, using the male speaker’s perspective to critique possessiveness and moral decay. However, 'My Last Duchess' is distinct in its focus on societal structures, offering a sharper critique of class and gender hierarchies.

5. Modern Relevance

The themes of 'My Last Duchess' remain strikingly relevant today. Issues of control and objectification in relationships continue to resonate, highlighting the poem’s enduring ability to illuminate human behavior. The Duke’s manipulative tendencies echo contemporary discussions about power dynamics, gender equality, and toxic relationships, making Browning’s critique as pertinent now as it was in the Victorian Era.

6. Conclusion

Robert Browning’s 'My Last Duchess' is a powerful exploration of jealousy, power, and the objectification of women, encapsulated within the psychological complexity of the Duke’s monologue. Through his masterful use of language, symbolism, and dramatic monologue, Browning critiques Victorian social norms while delving into universal themes of morality and control. The poem’s enduring relevance lies in its unflinching portrayal of human nature and its incisive social commentary, making it a timeless work that continues to captivate and provoke.

References

1. Adler, Joshua. “Structure and Meaning in Browning’s ‘My Last Duchess.’” Victorian Poetry, vol. 15, no. 3, 1977, pp. 219–27. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/40002116.

2. Browning, Robert. “My Last Duchess.” Poetry Foundation, 1842, www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43768/my-last-duchess.

3. Drew, Philip. “Robert Browning.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Nov. 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Browning. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

4. Lowell, Edward J. “Alfred, Lord Tennyson.” Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, vol. 28, 1892, pp. 420–32. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20020545.

5. Robson, William Wallace. “Alfred, Lord Tennyson.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Nov. 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Lord-Tennyson. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.

Thank you!