Tennyson and Browning

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Tennyson as the Representative Literary Figure of the Victorian Era

The Victorian era, spanning from 1837 to 1901, was a period of profound social, political, and intellectual change, marked by the expansion of the British Empire, industrialization, and the height of the British Empire’s influence across the world. This was also a time of significant cultural and philosophical upheaval, with growing debates over faith, science, and individualism, all set against the backdrop of social inequality and class struggles. The literature of the Victorian era reflects these tensions and complexities, and among the leading figures of this period, Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) stands out as perhaps the most emblematic poet of the time.

Tennyson’s poetry not only embodies the spirit of the Victorian age but also grapples with its key issues—faith versus doubt, the role of tradition in a rapidly changing world, the exploration of individual consciousness, and the complexities of love, heroism, and social responsibility. He was appointed Poet Laureate in 1850, a role that further cemented his status as the voice of Victorian England. His works became synonymous with Victorian ideals, even as they captured the anxieties and ambiguities of the period. This essay will argue that Tennyson represents the Victorian era in both thematic and stylistic terms, serving as a bridge between the Romanticism of the early 19th century and the modern sensibilities of the 20th century.

Tennyson’s Representation of the Victorian Age

Faith and Doubt

One of the central themes in Tennyson's work is the tension between faith and doubt, a preoccupation that mirrors the broader Victorian struggle between religious belief and scientific discovery. The Victorian era saw the rise of new scientific theories, most notably Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859), which challenged traditional religious views of creation and human existence. As Victorian society wrestled with the implications of scientific knowledge, many felt a sense of disillusionment or loss of faith in traditional religious doctrine.

Tennyson’s In Memoriam (1850) is one of the most poignant explorations of this theme. Written in the wake of the death of his close friend, Arthur Henry Hallam, the poem is a meditation on grief, death, and the search for meaning in a world increasingly shaped by doubt and skepticism. The poem captures the emotional and intellectual turmoil of the Victorian era, as Tennyson struggles to reconcile his faith in God with the existential questions raised by the loss of a loved one and the implications of a world that appears indifferent to human suffering. In *In Memoriam*, the poet voices the tension between the desire for religious comfort and the skepticism that arises from the apparent contradictions in nature and the absence of clear divine signs. The famous lines “Be near me when my light is low, / When the blood creeps, and the nerves prick / And tingle; and the heart is sick, / And all the wheels of Being slow” express the feeling of isolation and uncertainty in the face of loss.

However, the poem ultimately moves toward a reconciliation between faith and doubt, offering a sense of hope in the idea of an afterlife. The work, thus, mirrors the Victorian age's attempts to find a balance between traditional religious faith and emerging scientific ideas. It is not simply a crisis of belief, but a journey toward faith through suffering and reflection, a hallmark of Victorian thought.

The Heroic and the Ideal

Tennyson's engagement with the theme of heroism also made him a figurehead for Victorian values, which placed great emphasis on duty, courage, and the sense of moral responsibility. His poetry often explores the nature of heroism, particularly in *Idylls of the King* (1859-1885), a series of poems that retell the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. In these poems, Tennyson adapts the medieval romance to reflect Victorian ideals of duty, honor, and social responsibility, as well as the complexities of moral decision-making.

In Idylls of the King, Tennyson examines the fallibility of heroic ideals, using the Arthurian legend as a metaphor for the moral struggles faced by Victorian society. King Arthur, the noble and idealistic leader, strives to uphold justice and the common good, but his kingdom is ultimately doomed due to human weaknesses and failings—exemplified by the betrayals of Lancelot and Guinevere. The moral decay and inevitable collapse of Camelot represent the Victorian fear that the age’s ideals of progress, virtue, and morality might also be fragile and vulnerable to corruption. Yet, in Arthur’s tragic end, Tennyson also presents a vision of redemption, suggesting that even in the face of inevitable failure, the pursuit of moral integrity remains a noble and worthwhile endeavor.

The theme of the heroic in Tennyson's work extends beyond the mythological to the everyday. His poem Ulysses (1842), for example, features the aging hero from Homer's epic, who reflects on his past adventures and the restlessness that still drives him. Ulysses, despite his old age, expresses a desire to continue pursuing greatness, emphasizing a Victorian ideal of striving for achievement and significance in the face of personal limitations. The line “It’s not too late to seek a newer world” reflects Tennyson's own belief in the importance of individual aspiration and the value of pursuing one’s ideals, even when faced with life's inevitable challenges.

Social Responsibility and the Victorian Ideal of Progress

Tennyson’s poetry also addresses the social and political changes taking place during the Victorian era. As Britain became increasingly industrialized, social inequality and the plight of the working class were subjects of growing concern. In his poem *The Princess* (1847), Tennyson explores gender roles and the education of women, tackling the issue of women’s rights in an era when women's roles were largely confined to the domestic sphere. Through the narrative of a woman’s attempt to create a society free from male influence, *The Princess* critiques the limitations placed on women in Victorian society and offers a vision of progress where women can contribute to public life.

In Locksley Hall (1842), Tennyson also touches upon the social issues of the time, particularly the rise of industrialization and the alienation it created. The poem reflects the anxieties about technological progress and its dehumanizing effects on society, a concern that became more pronounced as industrialization transformed England’s landscape and economy. Through the character of the speaker, who looks back on a lost love and laments the changing world, Tennyson addresses the uncertainty and disillusionment that often accompanied the rapid pace of social and technological change.

Tennyson’s works frequently express a belief in the potential for progress—whether in the form of moral growth, social change, or personal transformation. His poetry suggests that while change may be unsettling, it is also inevitable and potentially redemptive. This is evident in the hopeful vision of the future found in *In Memoriam*, where the speaker finds comfort in the belief that humanity is evolving toward a more enlightened, compassionate future.

Robert Browning: A Thematic Exploration of My Last Duchess

While Tennyson is often seen as the poet of Victorian idealism, Robert Browning (1812–1889) represents another facet of Victorian literature: the darker, more psychologically complex side of human experience. Browning’s poetry is known for its dramatic monologues, which present characters who reveal their inner lives and conflicts through speech. One of his most famous works, 'My Last Duchess' (1842), exemplifies Browning’s exploration of power, desire, and the dark recesses of human psychology.

My Last Duchess : An Overview

My Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue spoken by a Duke to a representative of a potential bride’s family. As the Duke describes a portrait of his late wife, he subtly reveals the nature of his controlling, possessive, and ultimately murderous character. The poem’s central theme revolves around power dynamics, specifically the way in which the Duke asserts his dominance over his wife. The Duke's jealousy, insecurity, and need for control emerge through his speech, making the reader aware of the darker elements of his character, which he may not consciously recognize or admit.

 Power and Control

The Duke’s description of his late wife is filled with implied threats and a sense of possessiveness. He refers to the portrait as “My Last Duchess,” emphasizing his ownership over her, even in death. His statement, “I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together,” suggests that he was responsible for her demise, but he presents it in a matter-of-fact tone, as though it were a mere consequence of his authority. This chilling indifference to her death is a reflection of the Duke’s perception of women as objects to be controlled, rather than as individuals with their own agency.

The Duke’s desire for control is evident throughout the poem, particularly in his comments about his wife’s behavior. He resents her smile, which he believes was too freely given to others, and he feels slighted by her failure to recognize his superior status. The Duke's insecurity is masked by his assertion of authority and power. His obsessive desire to control his wife is not just a personal flaw, but also an expression of the broader societal norms of the time, which often subordinated women’s desires and autonomy to those of men.

 Jealousy and Insecurity

Browning’s portrayal of the Duke also delves deeply into the theme of jealousy, a powerful emotion that blinds him to his wife’s innocence. The Duke’s jealousy is tied to his sense of pride and his belief in his own superiority. He cannot tolerate the thought of anyone, particularly his wife, looking upon anything or anyone with more enthusiasm than they show toward him. His remarks about the Duchess’s apparent enjoyment of

simple pleasures—like the blush of a passing breeze or a conversation with a servant—reveal the shallowness of his sense of self-worth and the insecurity that drives his actions. He cannot fathom that she might be kind or appreciative of others without it diminishing his own worth.

The Duke’s jealousy becomes a form of control, and in the end, his inability to see his wife as an independent person leads him to silence her forever. The murder of the Duchess is presented as a tragic, though not entirely surprising, consequence of his obsessive need to dominate and possess.

A Reflection on Social Class

The Duke’s sense of entitlement and his treatment of his wife also reflect the social structures of Victorian society, where class and wealth often determined an individual’s worth and power. As a member of the aristocracy, the Duke sees himself as inherently superior to the people around him, including his wife. His reference to the “statuesque” qualities of the portrait and his criticism of his wife’s apparent lack of appreciation for his status further reinforce the social hierarchies of the time.

Through the Duke’s character, Browning critiques the dehumanizing effects of wealth and power, particularly in the context of marriage, where the wife becomes a symbol of social status rather than a person in her own right.

Conclusion

Tennyson and Browning, two of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era, provide complementary views of the complexities of 19th-century life. Tennyson reflects the Victorian ideals of duty, heroism, and moral growth, often exploring the tension between faith and doubt in a rapidly changing world. In contrast, Browning offers a more psychological, sometimes cynical view of human nature, examining the darker aspects of power, jealousy, and control. Both poets, however, grapple with the struggles of the individual in a world shaped by social expectations, moral dilemmas, and the complexities of human desire.

Through their work, Tennyson and Browning capture the contradictions and challenges of the Victorian era, reflecting its ideals, its anxieties, and its contradictions. Tennyson, in his embodiment of Victorian moral sensibilities, and Browning, in his exploration of the psychological depths of character, together offer a comprehensive portrait of a society in the midst of great transformation. Their poetry continues to resonate today, as it speaks to the universal themes of human experience, from the search for meaning and spiritual reconciliation to the darker forces that shape our personal and social relationships.