Justify Robert Browning as an Optimistic Poet.

    Robert Browning is one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era. He is known for his dramatic monologues, which explore the complexities of human experience and the nature of the human soul. While some critics have labeled Browning as a pessimistic poet, it can be argued that he is, in fact, an optimistic poet.

    Browning was born in 1812 in Camberwell, London, England. He was the son of a wealthy bank clerk and grew up in a family that valued literature and the arts. Browning's early poetry was heavily influenced by the Romantic poets, particularly Percy Bysshe Shelley. However, as he matured as a poet, Browning developed his own distinctive style.

Robert Browning as an Optimistic Poet:  

    One of Browning's most famous poems is "Pippa Passes." The poem tells the story of a young girl named Pippa who, despite her humble origins, is able to bring joy and hope to those around her. The poem is characterized by its optimism and its celebration of the human spirit.

For example, in the opening stanza, Browning writes,

"The year's at the spring

And day's at the morn;

Morning's at seven;

The hill-side's dew-pearled;

The lark's on the wing;

The snail's on the thorn;

God's in His heaven –

All's right with the world!"

 

    The use of repetition and the simple, declarative sentences create a sense of joy and optimism that is characteristic of Browning's poetry.

    Similarly, in "Rabbi Ben Ezra," Browning explores the idea of aging and the nature of the human soul. The poem is characterized by its optimism and its celebration of the human spirit.

For example, Browning writes,

"Grow old along with me!

The best is yet to be,

The last of life, for which the first was made:

Our times are in His hand

Who saith 'A whole I planned,

Youth shows but half;

trust God: see all, nor be afraid!"

 

    The use of repetition and the simple, declarative sentences create a sense of hope and optimism that is characteristic of Browning's poetry.

    In addition to his celebration of the human spirit, Browning is also known for his exploration of the complexities of human experience. In "My Last Duchess," for example, Browning explores the nature of jealousy and the destructive power of pride. However, even in this dark and complex poem, there is a sense of optimism and hope.

For example, Browning writes,

"Notice Neptune, though,

Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,

Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!"

 

    The use of irony and the reference to art create a sense of hope and optimism that is characteristic of Browning's poetry.

    Similarly, in "Andrea del Sarto," Browning explores the nature of art and the relationship between art and life. The poem is characterized by its complexity and its exploration of the human soul. However, even in this complex and nuanced poem, there is a sense of hope and optimism.

For example, Browning writes,

"Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp,

Or what's a heaven for?"

     The use of metaphor and the simple, declarative sentences create a sense of hope and optimism that is characteristic of Browning's poetry.

    In conclusion, Robert Browning is an optimistic poet who celebrates the human spirit and the complexities of human experience. His works are characterized by their optimism, their celebration of life, and their exploration of the human soul. Whether he is exploring the nature of aging or the destructive power of pride, Browning's poetry is always characterized by a sense of hope and optimism. His works continue to be celebrated today as some of the greatest examples of Victorian poetry.