➡️ Hello learners. I'm a student. I'm writing this blog as a part of thinking activity. Given by Prakruti ma'am. In which I have tried to answer some interesting questions.
🔶 Justify Tennyson as the representative literary figure of the Victorian Era.
➡️ Alfred, Lord Tennyson is often considered a quintessential representative of the Victorian era because his poetry captures the complexity, moral concerns, and spirit of change that defined the time. Here are some key reasons why he is regarded as a figure emblematic of his age:
1. Engagement with Social Issues:
Tennyson’s work reflects the social and industrial upheavals of the Victorian period. Poems like "The Lady of Shalott" explore themes of isolation and alienation, paralleling the social fragmentation that came with rapid industrialization. His "Locksley Hall" tackles issues like class struggle, the impact of technology, and the anxieties surrounding progress.
2. Moral and Philosophical Questions:
The Victorian era was marked by a crisis of faith, with scientific advancements like Darwin’s theory of evolution challenging traditional religious beliefs. Tennyson’s In Memoriam A.H.H., a long elegy written after the death of his friend Arthur Hallam, deals profoundly with questions of faith, doubt, and the existence of God, mirroring the spiritual struggles of his contemporaries.
3. Patriotism and National Identity:
As Poet Laureate, Tennyson became a national figure, often reflecting Victorian values of heroism, duty, and patriotism. His poem "The Charge of the Light Brigade" commemorates a disastrous military action during the Crimean War but emphasizes bravery, loyalty, and sacrifice, values that resonated with a Victorian audience.
4. Exploration of Psychological Complexity: Victorian literature often examined the human psyche and moral conflicts, themes that are evident in Tennyson’s works. For example, in "Ulysses," he explores the restlessness and yearning for purpose that can exist even in old age, a reflection of the era's introspective spirit and its focus on personal and psychological depth.
5. Language and Aesthetic:
Tennyson’s lyrical beauty, precision, and rhythmic mastery are quintessentially Victorian. His poetry is known for its musicality, imagery, and sensory richness, which embody the Victorian penchant for ornate language and a heightened aesthetic sensibility.
In these ways, Tennyson’s poetry captures the essence of Victorian concerns and sensibilities, making him a literary voice that both reflected and influenced his era. His work resonates with the Victorian struggle to reconcile traditional values with modern realities, embodying the period’s spirit of questioning and transition.
🔶 Pick a poem written by Robert Browning and discuss its thematic concerns.
➡️ One of Robert Browning’s most celebrated poems, My Last Duchess, is a dramatic monologue that exemplifies many of Browning's thematic concerns, such as power, control, jealousy, and the darker sides of human nature.
__ Robert Browning.
Summary:
In My Last Duchess, the speaker, the Duke of Ferrara, is showing a portrait of his deceased wife to an emissary who has come to discuss the Duke's impending marriage to another young woman. Through the Duke's reflections on the portrait, it becomes clear that he was intensely controlling and felt threatened by his wife's friendliness and her appreciation of life’s simple pleasures.
Thematic Concerns:
1. Power and Control:
The Duke’s obsessive need for control over his wife is central to the poem. He criticizes her for being too easily pleased and hints that he wanted exclusive possession of her smiles and affection. The Duke’s admission, “I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together,” suggests that he had her killed to regain control, underscoring his tyrannical view of relationships and his desire to dominate.
2. Jealousy and Possessiveness:
The Duke’s jealousy is another key theme, reflecting the dangers of extreme possessiveness. He cannot tolerate the idea that his wife might appreciate anyone or anything other than him. This jealousy ultimately leads him to a cold-blooded response, revealing how unchecked possessiveness can corrupt a person’s morality.
3. The Objectification of Women:
The poem critiques the ways in which women were objectified and treated as property in Victorian society. The Duke’s view of his wife as a possession is emphasized in the way he controls access to her portrait, just as he sought to control her in life. This sense of ownership is reflective of broader societal norms that often treated women as commodities rather than individuals with autonomy.
4. Pride and Social Status:
The Duke’s high regard for his lineage and social status emerges as another theme. He takes pride in his “nine-hundred-years-old name” and expects his wife to value it as he does. His preoccupation with status and reputation, as well as his desire for a bride who will “meet his standards,” reflects the Victorian emphasis on class and reputation.
5. Psychological Complexity and Inner Conflict:
Browning explores the psychology of his speaker, making My Last Duchess as much a study of the Duke’s character as it is a narrative of events. The Duke’s polite, almost casual tone when discussing his wife's murder contrasts sharply with the horror of his actions, creating an unsettling effect. This duality in the Duke’s demeanor reveals Browning’s fascination with the complexities and contradictions of human psychology.
Through My Last Duchess, Browning examines the darker sides of love, power, and human behavior, making the poem a powerful critique of possessiveness and moral corruption. The poem’s layered narrative and subtle irony allow readers to see beyond the Duke’s polished exterior, revealing a chilling portrait of pride, jealousy, and the perils of control.
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