Politics Regarding Dramatic Form

The essay written by Isobel Armstrong discusses the way that critics looked at poetry and in particular Robert Browning as a poet. The author discusses that there are different dynamics of which poetry becomes relevant to readers and critics. The act of pulling in emotions is very important because it allows the readers to find that inner purpose through the poetry. In the essay he states, “all poetry is of the nature of soliloquy. All poetry is a construct, a representation, but the poet of soliloquy eliminating the evidence of it’s own construction.” I think that this quote gets to a strong essence of what Isobel thinks of regarding the art of poetry. This part of the essay plays on the idea that while poetry needs that essence of artistic form and beauty, it is also very important that there is always a way to tie in a greater meaning behind the act of this artistic form. Therefore, a soliloquy, which is the inner workings of a person, allows a greater understanding of a person. The audience is not only let in on the speakers’ thoughts, but can grasp a further opinion on more important matters in society.

This idea of finding further purpose is an idea that Browning works on through his poetry. Browning opens himself up to these possibilities of finding further purpose, but the critics are opened up to new ideas to look over. Even though the artistic view of fiction is at work through the act of soliloquy an important overall concept is what is ultimately found. This is where poetry and impactful poetry differs. This is something that critics hope to find when looking at works written by poets such as Crowning. However, an understanding and compromise on a stance regarding issues need to be found between the poets and critics.