Victorian Views

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.