Robert Browning
, one of the most talented poets of the Victorian period, is famous especially for
his dramatic monologues. Often these long poems deal with such issues as love, death, and faith. Much of
his work is directly reflective of his life and of those issues that were of direct concern to him. One conflict
seen throughout Browning's poetry is one of spirituality. His poetry forms a spiritual timeline; it reveals his
spiritual influences and opinions. It formed his own Bible of beliefs which he possessed. Because
Browning's views on spirituality changed, his poetry also gives insight on the internal conflicts within his
life. The paper will explore Robert Browning's spiritual ...
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who had strong ties to the congregational church, took great time to instruct Robert in his
religious studies. With this open atmosphere, however, Browning exhibited signs of disinterest in religion
during his early childhood. The town preacher, in fact , found it necessary to publicly scold "for
restlessness and inattention Master Robert Browning"(as cited in,Miller, 1953, p.9). Robert Browning's
tendency toward skepticism was recorded early on.
Robert Browning's first deviation from his faith was at the age of fifteen or sixteen. His primary
influences were the Flower family and the writing of P.B Shelley. Browning often traveled to the Flower's
house to discuss music, poetry, and aethism (Irvine & Honan, 1974). Eliza Flower , with whom Browning
was infatuated was an influence in Browning's aethism. She was one of the primary influences that turned
Browning away from the Christianity of his mother. His other influence, the writing of ...
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measure in the
years to come not only the sum of his own poetic achievement but the very nature of human integrity
itself"(Miller, 1953, p.9). Although there is no available poetry written before his first published work,
Pauline, his early aethism is still reflected in his early poetry.
Robert Browning eloped to Italy with Elizabeth Barret. Upon meeting his extremely religious
wife and with her persuasion, Browning began to realize that Shelley's poetry had led him to a life of self-
absorption. Yet, "Robert took a skeptical attitude on the spiritual rappings, spurred on perhaps by his wife's
immediate will to believe"(Markus,1995, p.219). Eventually, ...
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"Robert Browning." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 6 Jun. 2004. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Robert-Browning/9027>
"Robert Browning." Essayworld.com. June 6, 2004. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Robert-Browning/9027.
"Robert Browning." Essayworld.com. June 6, 2004. Accessed April 24, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Robert-Browning/9027.
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