NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
By the Fire-Side On the surface, it appears that Robert Brownings poem By the Fire-Side does not have a clear historical references, which would allow us to think of it as poetical piece that contains the essence of Victorian spirit, in traditional sense of this word. In it, author describes his trip to Italy with his wife in terms of metaphysical quest, while allowing readers to interpret the poems main message in variety of different ways. However, there are many indications, which can be found throughout the poem that point out to the fact that By the Fire-Side was written at the time when Church influence on peoples minds was waning rapidly. The reason why we are left with no doubts as to when poem was written is that in it, author uses a refined poetical language, in order to convey the ideas that are quite simple. This is one of the most important characteristics of Victorian poetry, as whole. In 19 th century England, more and more people were slowly beginning to realize that Western society lack a solid foundation, upon which the conventional morality is being built.
As a result, the majority of English intellectuals of the time were affected by nihilist attitudes towards religion in general. Robert Browning is not the exception and By the Fire-Side proves the validity of this statement better than authors other poems. In it, Browning discusses objective reality as such that is not related to the outdated religious dogmas: Stoop and kneel on the settle under, Look through the window's grated square: Nothing to see! For fear of plunder, The cross is down and the altar bare, As if thieves don't fear thunder (Browning, XXXV) At the same time, poems highly allegorical language suggest that it was written by an intellectual who is capable of thinking about different aspects of his own life experiences from different perspectives. However, this does not deprive Brownings poem of ideological depth, as it is the case with the poetical styles that developed later in time. In By the Fire-Side, author admits that life is much more complex than it is usually assumed; nevertheless, this does not cause him to adopt a passive attitude, when it comes to forming a socio-political stance, on his part.
This indicates that Brownings poem could only be written at the time when the true potential of Western civilization ceased to be bounded by the obscure doctrine of Christianity, while it was also not yet affected by peoples biological degradation. In 19 th century, the dominance of White people in the world could not be challenged. It coincided with rapid cultural and scientific progress in Western countries. Today, we refer to this historical period as Victorian era.
We can say that Victorianism is nothing but the Renaissance of 19 th century. This is the reason why By the Fire-Side contains so many humanistic motifs. Browning talks of his wife Leonor as someone who inspires him to be a better man more than anything else does: My perfect wife, my Leonor, Oh heart, my own, oh eyes, mine too, Whom else could I dare look backward for? (Browning, XXI) We can say that essentially, By the Fire-Side is nothing but glorification of naturalness in poetical form. It is not the descriptive aspects of the poem that allow us define the historical period, in which it was conceived, but poems philosophical sounding.
While being clearly an emotional person, Browning nevertheless proves himself as talented logician in By the Fire-Side. This also corresponds to the essence of Victorian mode of existence, when peoples supreme ability to operate with abstract categories allowed them to achieve excellence in science, exploration and colonization. Browning allows readers to get to the essence of his message on their own, while providing them with opportunity to get pleasure out of being able to decipher poems high allegorist. Thus, we can think of Browning as the precursor of such poetical styles as symbolism and modernism. This is the best reason for By the Fire-Side to be discussed within a context of Victorian mindset. Bibliography: Browning, Robert By the Fire-Side. 2007.
Elite Skills Classics. 25 Sep. 2007. web Robert Browning. 2007. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 25 Sep. 2007. web
Free research essays on topics related to: robert browning, victorian, historical period, 19 th century, browning
Research essay sample on 19 Th Century Robert Browning
