This blog is part of Thinking Activity task given by Pro Prakruti Bhatt ma'am.
1. Justify Tennyson as the representative literary figure of the Victorian Era
Alfred Lord Tennyson, born in 1809, is widely regarded as one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era. His life, education, and literary career reflect the key concerns and cultural shifts of the 19th century. Tennyson’s early life was filled with difficulties, such as a strict and mentally unstable father and financial hardships. Despite these challenges, Tennyson attended Trinity College, Cambridge, where he gained recognition for his poetry. His early works were well-received, but it was after his appointment as Poet Laureate in 1850, following the death of William Wordsworth, that Tennyson became the poetic voice of the Victorian era. As Poet Laureate, Tennyson was expected to capture and express the moods, challenges, and national sentiments of his time.
Tennyson’s literary career was a journey of gradual success, marked by some of his major works such as Poems (1830), Poems, Chiefly Lyrical (1832), In Memoriam (1850), and Idylls of the King (1859). These works are known for their deep exploration of human emotion, personal loss, spirituality, and the changing world around him. His poetry deals with themes that were highly relevant to the Victorian period, including the crisis of faith caused by the rise of science and the questioning of religious beliefs, the role of women in society, and the ideals of duty, progress, and imperialism.
Why Tennyson Represents the Victorian Era
a. Exploration of Faith and Doubt: Tennyson’s poetry reflects the intellectual and spiritual climate of the Victorian age, where there was a growing conflict between traditional religious beliefs and the new scientific discoveries, especially Darwin’s theory of evolution. This conflict often caused uncertainty and doubt among Victorians. In his poem In Memoriam, written in honor of his close friend Arthur Henry Hallam, Tennyson explores grief, loss, and the search for spiritual meaning. The poem famously addresses the struggle to reconcile faith with the rise of scientific rationalism, which was a significant concern during the Victorian era. The poem’s famous line, “Be near me when my light is low,” shows Tennyson’s need for divine comfort amid the darkness of uncertainty.
b. The Role of Women and Feminism: Tennyson’s work also reflects the changing social roles of women in the Victorian period. In poems such as The Princess (1847), he explores gender roles, the emancipation of women, and the idea of women breaking free from traditional societal expectations. Tennyson’s portrayal of women was complex. On one hand, his poems show admiration for the virtues of women, but on the other hand, they also present women as symbols of societal norms and expectations. The poem The Princess challenges traditional gender norms by depicting a strong female character, the Princess, who leads a women’s university and defies the conventional image of a passive woman.
c. The Victorian Sense of Duty and Patriotism: Tennyson’s The Charge of the Light Brigade (1854) is a prime example of how his poetry captured the Victorian spirit of duty, patriotism, and national pride. Written in response to the Crimean War, the poem glorifies the bravery of the British soldiers who, despite receiving faulty orders, charged into battle. The poem’s famous line, “Into the valley of Death / Rode the six hundred,” emphasizes the soldiers' courage and sense of duty to their country, even in the face of certain death. Tennyson’s portrayal of military heroism reflects the Victorian ideal of self-sacrifice for the greater good, which was central to the British Empire’s identity during the 19th century.
d. Reflection of the Changing World: Tennyson’s poems often grapple with the sense of change that marked the Victorian era. The period was a time of rapid industrialization, scientific breakthroughs, and global expansion of the British Empire. In poems like Ulysses, Tennyson portrays the desire to continue exploring and advancing, even in the face of old age. Ulysses, the ancient Greek hero, declares, “It little profits that an idle king, / By this still hearth, among these barren crags,” reflecting the Victorian yearning for progress and achievement, no matter the age or personal circumstances.
e. The Aesthetic and Formal Qualities of Tennyson’s Poetry: Tennyson’s use of language and form made him one of the most respected poets of the Victorian age. His works are often noted for their lyrical beauty, technical skill, and use of meter. His mastery of traditional forms, such as the sonnet, elegy, and dramatic monologue, allowed him to blend personal reflection with larger societal themes. This formal mastery is part of what made Tennyson a key literary figure in the Victorian era, as his works were seen as both artistically and intellectually sophisticated.
Tennyson’s poetry provides a window into the complex world of the Victorian era, reflecting the social, political, and intellectual currents of his time. His exploration of faith, doubt, progress, and duty, as well as his engagement with gender and national identity, make him a representative figure of the Victorian literary period. His formal elegance, alongside the depth of his themes, solidified Tennyson’s place as one of the defining poets of the era.
2. Pick a Poem Written by Robert Browning and Discuss Its Thematic Concern
Robert Browning (1812–1889) is another iconic Victorian poet whose works delve into the complexities of the human psyche, psychological depth, and the intricacies of human relationships. Browning's education was largely self-directed, and his exposure to classical literature and European philosophies greatly influenced his work. He was married to the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and together they were one of the most renowned literary couples of the Victorian era. Browning’s early works were not widely recognized, but his collection Dramatic Lyrics (1842) marked the beginning of his success. His most famous form, the dramatic monologue, allows him to explore the inner worlds of his characters in a way that is both deeply insightful and engaging.
One of Browning’s most famous poems is My Last Duchess (1842), which offers a brilliant exploration of power, jealousy, and control. It is a dramatic monologue, a form Browning mastered, where a speaker addresses an unseen listener, revealing more about themselves than they perhaps intend.
Thematic Concern of My Last Duchess:
a. Power and Control: The central theme of My Last Duchess is the abuse of power and the desire for control. The speaker, the Duke of Ferrara, recounts his late wife’s portrait to a visitor, revealing his sense of ownership and domination over her. The poem opens with the Duke showing the portrait of his deceased wife and saying, “That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,” immediately establishing a sense of possessiveness. The Duke’s casual remark, “I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together,” implies that he had a hand in his wife’s death because she did not meet his high standards of behavior. The Duke’s actions demonstrate the theme of absolute control that he seeks over those around him, especially his wife, who is treated not as an equal, but as an object of possession.
b. Jealousy and Possessiveness: The Duke’s intense jealousy is evident throughout the poem. He resents that the Duchess was too easily impressed by simple things, such as “a bough of cherries” or “a white mule.” Her happiness and openness to the world around her anger him because he believes that her affection should be reserved solely for him. His jealousy turns into an obsession with the idea that his wife’s love should be exclusively his. The Duke’s possessiveness and jealousy ultimately lead him to take extreme measures, including the implied murder of his wife.
c. Objectification of Women: Through the Duke’s speech, Browning critiques the objectification of women in a patriarchal society. The Duke does not view his wife as a person with her own feelings, desires, or agency. Instead, she is treated as an object for him to display and control. The fact that the Duke continues to show the portrait of the Duchess to visitors after her death reinforces this objectification. The portrait, much like the Duchess herself, is static, silent, and controlled by the Duke’s gaze.
d. The Role of Art and Representation: The portrait of the Duchess in the poem symbolizes the Duke’s desire to freeze her in time, to preserve her as an object of beauty and possession. The Duke takes pride in the painting, showing it off to guests, while speaking of his wife in the past tense. He even comments on how her smiles were “too easily given,” suggesting that he preferred her in death because it allowed him to control her image. The use of art as a way of asserting power, rather than appreciating the subject's true nature, is a powerful metaphor for the Duke’s character and his inability to appreciate people as individuals.
e. Psychological Depth and Characterization: One of the most striking features of Browning’s dramatic monologue is his ability to delve into the psychology of his characters. Through the Duke’s words, the reader comes to understand his narcissism, arrogance, and moral blindness. The Duke reveals himself as an insecure, manipulative, and highly possessive individual, whose pride and need for control ultimately destroy his relationships. His narrative exposes his belief that he is above reproach, believing his actions are justified by his status and wealth. His calm, measured tone throughout the poem contrasts sharply with the darker aspects of his character, making him a chilling figure. Browning uses the Duke’s speech to illustrate the complexity of human emotions particularly pride, envy, and resentment as the Duke justifies his actions in a way that suggests he sees no fault in his behavior.
My Last Duchess is a brilliant exploration of power, jealousy, and the dangers of possessiveness. Through the Duke’s dramatic monologue, Browning critiques not only the psychological complexities of the character but also the broader societal tendencies to objectify and control women. The poem's portrayal of the Duke’s character serves as a chilling reflection on the abuse of power and the dark side of human nature, making it a quintessential example of Browning’s skill in using the dramatic monologue form to delve into the intricacies of human behavior. The poem invites readers to consider the consequences of unchecked power and the moral implications of controlling others for personal gain.
Thus, Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess serves as a stark exploration of psychological complexity and moral corruption, showcasing the dark aspects of human nature that can emerge when power and control are exercised without compassion or respect for others. It is a powerful reflection of Victorian society's fascination with the darker, often hidden aspects of human psychology and the dangers inherent in unchecked authority.
Conclusion:
Both Tennyson and Browning stand as towering figures in Victorian literature, each embodying the era's complexities and concerns through their distinctive poetic voices. Tennyson, as the poet laureate of the Victorian age, captured the era’s struggles with faith, doubt, national identity, and the role of women, reflecting the era’s moral uncertainties and societal changes. His exploration of personal grief, spiritual reflection, and patriotic ideals allowed him to voice the Victorian ethos, offering a sense of comfort and guidance in times of uncertainty. Poems like In Memoriam and The Charge of the Light Brigade continue to resonate for their insight into human emotion and their reflection of the broader national consciousness.
On the other hand, Robert Browning brought a more intimate and psychological perspective to Victorian poetry. His mastery of the dramatic monologue allowed him to explore the darker, often hidden sides of human nature, as seen in My Last Duchess. Browning’s poems frequently focus on power, jealousy, and moral corruption, presenting characters who reveal their inner lives in moments of speech. While Tennyson often explored broader social and emotional themes, Browning delved deep into individual psyche and psychological conflict, portraying the complexities of human relationships and the dangers of unchecked authority and desire.
Together, Tennyson and Browning represent two essential strands of Victorian poetry: Tennyson reflects the outward-facing concerns of the time spiritual, national, and social while Browning offers a more inward, psychological exploration of the human condition. Their works, rich in thematic depth and artistic form, not only define the Victorian literary tradition but also offer timeless insights into the human experience, making them indispensable figures in the study of 19th-century literature.
References:
Images:
https://jstor-mkbu.refread.com/
https://jstor-mkbu.refread.com/
Other References:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred,_Lord_Tennyson
Author(s): R. W. WALLACE
Source: The Journal of Education, AUGUST 19, 1909, Vol. 70, No. 6 (1741) (AUGUST 19, 1909), pp. 143-144
Published by: Sage Publications, Inc.
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/42812092
Robert Browning:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Browning
https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/robert-browning/my-last-duchess
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