Robert Browning death theme

‘For sudden the worst turns the best to brave…’ How does Browning convey the narrators feelings about death in ‘Prospice’? In your answer, explore the effects of language, imagery, verse form and how these two poems relate to other poems that you have studied.

In ‘Prospice’, Browning presents feelings towards death as a battle, that shouldn’t be feared by anyone, that you must be optimistic, yet determined to win the one sided battle. He also expresses the need for acceptance for death, and indeed the life you lived, in order to be successful, and peaceful in the penultimate battle. The narrator is approaching death, but see’s themself as a fighter that must fight the “Arch Fear” - a personification for the Grim Reaper or death itself- in order to gain the ultimate reward. Browning wrote ‘Prospice’ soon after his wife Elizabeth died, so this could be seen as a coping mechanism for losing her, but also preparing himself for the final stage in life. In the poems ‘Dubiety’, ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and ‘A Grammarian’s Funeral’, Browning also exaggerates the idea that death must be accepted in order to achieve peace from the harsh world they lived in, yet achieve the prize (a lost one or love) which is shown by the regular rhyme scheme (ABAB), showing that calmness in the situation is key, yet it could symbolise the simplicity of the narrators requests for love.

In ‘Prospice’, Browning makes it clear that acceptance is vital for a peaceful death. “Prospice” translates from Latin to “look forward”, inferring that death must not be feared, that it is inevitable for everyone, yet the personal versus universal view on death varies. Our narrator feels there is a personal reward for losing the battle with death -reunited with his lover-, yet the universal view is that death is painful, and no reward can be received for a one sided battle. “I shall clasp thee again” shows his desperation to be with his wife once again, yet also that he knows that death will be upon him inferring his acceptance that his wife has died and that he too will pass on. The specific choice of “clasp” shows that he hasn’t let go of his wife, and will merely tighten his grasp on her once they are reunited, also showing his need for control over both the situation and his love. Also, the line “for the journey is done and the summit attained” conveys his acceptance of the fact that he is at the end of his life, and he is at the highest point in his life that he will ever get to. The idea of the “summit” also could infer he is close to heaven as he will ever be, he has climbed the highest mountain in life and reached the top, he can only fall back down to death. ‘Dubiety’ also explores the acceptance of death in a personal versus universal way, it is a universal experience, but Browning has personalised it to make us think about the ultimate event. ‘Dubiety’ presents death as a comfort, at first the narrator is doubtful about death, but in the last 3 stanzas he becomes more accepting of his fatality. “Be life so, all things ever the same!” shows his acceptance that it is part of the life cycle and there is no preventing it so life must go on for him and everyone around him. Our narrator turns to nature to find comfort in life’s harshness; “only help me, Autumn weather” showing that he perhaps has nothing left but the world no more, and the only phase of life left to face him is death itself. The specific choice of “Autumn” shows that much like him, the leaves begin to and eventually die in this season, the season is a metaphor for himself as he approaches death. Perhaps the appeal to nature and referring to himself as autumn infers his acceptance to dying, that it is inevitably going to happen soon.

Also, ‘Prospice’ personifies the experience of death into a battle to try and control the situation, eliminating fear. “The Arch Fear in a visible form” -meaning the Grim Reaper- is our narrator personifying death into something universally relatable, it is some peoples greatest fear, however in ‘Prospice’, Browning is conveying the importance of not fearing death. By personifying death, he is ultimately controlling the event, making it into something he doesn’t have to worry about as he knows what is going to happen. The idea of death being the “Arch Fear” conveys that it was his biggest fear until he’s had to face it himself, now he’s forced to accept his fatality. The poem is an extended metaphor of war, in the leading up to death you must prepare for battle, and be determined to win the reward. The line “for sudden the worst turns the best to brave” also conveys his need to control the situation, the final life battle. The use of the superlatives “worst” and “best”, emphasises that death makes you realise all you’ve had in life, and by gaining control of your death, you are able to know you’ve lived life well, and can still control everything you once had, taking it with you to after life, for example love. ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ is another example of Brownings poetry that conveys death in a sense of control. “That moment she was mine, mine, fair” is an example of our narrator becoming obsessive over the lover, and in wanting to preserve the love, control it for the rest of their lives, he exerts his power over her leading to her death. The repetition of “mine” infers his obsession with her remaining his ‘object’ for eternity, and remaining pure for him -which was expected of a woman at the time. Furthermore, the line “I am quite sure she felt no pain” shows that even during and after her death, he tries to control her, but he can’t be sure of his actions. Perhaps he is trying to justify his actions by using his power and control over her, or even he’s coming to realise what he’s done. He may have preserved her for himself mentally, but she can no longer be with him physically, which is perhaps a reference to the disease Porphyria itself -the narrator his body is declining and perhaps he is dying himself, but mentally he still has the capacity to think- he wants them to die together.

In conclusion, Browning conveys the narrators feelings towards death in ‘Prospice’ and other poems through control and acceptance of it. Without these thoughts, you cannot succeed in a peaceful death, nor overcome the fear of it. By approaching death, our narrators reach their ultimate goals of being reunited or preserving the love that matters dearly to them, finding love and preserving is ultimately the meaning of life, whether its parental love or romantic love, our narrators all wish to be reunited with their love.