Robert+Browning+and+Doubt



Robert Browning, a Religious Poet?

[|Robert Browning] (1812 – 1889) was a Victorian poet particularly known for his dramatic monologues. Browning believed in [|Theism], which is “a belief in the existence of God or Gods, specifically of a creator who intervenes in the universe" (OED). He referred to his deity as the “intelligent spirit” (Pigou). The dramatic monologue form helped express his interest in, and questioning of, religion.

His religious explorations started when he was twelve years old and became interested in Percy Shelly[iii] **(citation does not work) **. For a while, he was an atheist and a vegetarian, following in Shelly’s footsteps (Ryals). As Robert Browning grew up he exchanged his atheism for a life of religious questioning. Browning defended his early youth by saying, “[i]n religion one earnest and extorted assertion of belief should outweigh, as a matter of testimony to many assertion of unbelief” (Victorian Web). One can see this sentiment reflected in Browning’s approach to religion, especially in his dramatic monologues.

Browning’s dramatic monologues include a variety of religious characters, such as monks, Gods, devils, peasants, and scientists. They are staged in several time periods, from contemporary London and Germany to renaissance and early Europe. Some argue that Browning’s intention in writing dramatic monologues was to display the power and beauty of having a relationship with God, though this view is widely challenged by critics today.

For example, in [|“Fra Lippo Lippi”], the painter describes his experiences as a monk after converting as an orphan (Browning). When he was introduced to God and the church he found a passion for art and paints his perception of beauty, “[t]he beauty and the wonder and the power, the shapes of things, their colors, lights and shades…and God made it all" (Browning). Some understand the poem to express that there are no faults, everything was placed perfectly by the hand of God (Irvine and Honan), while others note that “Fra Lippo Lippi" is hardly the most devout of monks.

Another example of Browning religious doubt is the discussion of hierarchical systems in religion in the dramatic monologue [|“Caliban upon Setebos”.] “Setebos” and “the Quiet” are figures of power in the monologue. The Quiet is an ultimate God who “made all things”, while Setebos is a selfish God who did not “help at all” (Browning).


 * Further Reading**
 * Drew, Phillip. //The Poetry of Robert Browning: A Critical Introduction.// (Methuen 1970)
 * Ryals, Clyde de L. //The Life of Robert Browning: A Critical Biography.// (Blackwell 1993)


 * External Links**
 * [|Poetry and Biography of Robert Browning]
 * [|Audio recordings of Robert Browning at the //British Library//]
 * [|The Browning Society]
 * [|The Brownings: A Research Guide (Baylor University)]

--JAL/ENGL335/WhittierCollege/Fall2012


 * Works Cited**

Browning, Robert. "Fra Lippo Lippi." Poetry Foundation. Poetry Foundation, 1 Jan. 2014. Web.

C, Pigou A. //Robert Browning Religious Leader//. London: C.J Clay, 1901. Print.

Halley, Catherine. "Caliban upon Setebos." //Poetry Foundation//. Poetry Foundation, 1 Jan. 2014. Web.

Irvine, William, and Park Honan. //The Book, the Ring and the Poet: A Biography of Robert Browning//. McGraw-Hill, 1974. Print.

Kennedy, Richard S., and Donald S. Hair. //The Dramatic Imagination of Robert Browning: A Literary Life//. Columbia: University of Missouri, 2007. Print.

Oxford English Dictionary. "Theism." : Definition of in Oxford Dictionary (American English). Web.

Ryals, Clyde de L. //The Life of Robert Browning: A Critical Biography//. Blackwell, 1993. Print.

The Victorian Web. "Robert Browning — Biographical Materials." //Robert Browning — Biographical Materials//. 1 Feb. 2011. Web.