Discuss Browning's ethical position in "The Statue and the Bust".

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Lisa Bishop

Discuss Browning’s ethical position in “The Statue and the Bust”

The ethics of Robert Browning in the poem “The Statue and the Bust” have undoubtedly provoked a great deal of controversy. In the mid to late nineteenth century one critic, Mr Mortimer, said that “The Statue and the Bust” showed that Browning “prescribes action at any price, even that of defying the restrictions of the moral law”. On the other hand, another poet, named Swinburne, greatly admired the works of Browning and was known to have “repeated or rather chanted, to his friends, a few of Browning’s poems, in particular ‘The Statue and the Bust’”.

        Although in “The Statue and the Bust” Browning is retelling an old legend, the sentiments are his own. In the last stanzas, he defends himself and his poem against the criticism, which he knows his clearly stated personal opinions will evoke. It is this that makes the poem so different from any other of Browning’s monologues; the sentiments in; “The Statue and the Bust” are clearly his own and cannot be said to be those of any imaginary characters.

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        In the poem, the two lovers are criticised for the procrastination and weakness, which prevented them from eloping. As a consequence, Browning has been accused of implying that, under certain circumstances, adultery is laudable. However, having foreseen such criticism, Browning says “I hear you reproach, ‘But delay was best, for their end was a crime’”. The reference to adultery as a crime is in itself significant as evidence that Browning does not condone it. Browning proceeds by saying that, had they repented of their sinful passion and been prevented from eloping by moral reasons, he would have commended them. But ...

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