John Forster goes back and forth to
shed light on Browning’s attributes and on his flaws. He first shares the idea
of Browning being a man of genius. He says that his poems will live on due to
his use of the natural use of his philosophies and dramatic writing style. Forester
says that no one even thinks of Brown as the speaker once they are reading
because they are so caught up in the poems and the dramas that are displayed.
He then goes on to say that Brown has made a situation that he had never hoped
for. There is now a standard for his poems in a dramatic sense that Forster
does not think Brown wants or can uphold to. This idea of a dramatic test
suggests that this is the only way that Brown will find an audience to still
read his poems. Therefore, standards with poetry are created to always show and
relate theses emotions and great dramas. This then questions Brown because he
does not want to always be given this standard does this question him as a poet
all together?
Thomas Carlyle writes a letter to
Brown about his poetry and his opinions regarding his own writing style,
Carlyle sees Browning as having a special gift that he says shine through in
his writings. However, he says to stay true to the writer that Brown is because
that is what makes him an impact on literature. Carlyle’s way of wanting more
for Brown and seeing a potential in him suggests that Brown is almost selling
himself out for what is popular instead of staying true to his intellect. This battle
is something that Carlyle thinks Brown needs to overcome because Brown will
lose his purpose as a poet can change the whole dynamic of what his writing is supposed
to represent.
William Morris starts out to show
how angered he is and his values based on intellect are strongly addressed. He
is responding to the great deal of criticism that is following Brown’s reputation
as a poet. He is upset by the way that he sees this criticism attacking the way
of Brown’s writing. However, Morris does seem to agree that the style of Brown’s
writing is very hard to follow in some cases, but he does not want to change
the initial integrity of the writing. The argument that people do not want to
challenge themself and see poetry as anything more than light reading sets a
tone for poetry. The attitude towards poetry creates a sigma that poetry cannot
stand up to the same standards as other literature. However, without poetry so
many of the great authors would be lost. Therefore, poetry can be argued to be
a more intellectual reading because of the differences and challenges it
creates for the reader.
