'Glove , The' by Robert Browning
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(PETER RONSARD _loquitur_.)
``Heigho!'' yawned one day King Francis,
``Distance all value enhances!
``When a man's busy, why, leisure
``Strikes him as wonderful pleasure:
`` 'Faith, and at leisure once is he?
``Straightway he wants to be busy.
``Here we've got peace; and aghast I'm
``Caught thinking war the true pastime.
``Is there a reason in metre?
``Give us your speech, master Peter!''
I who, if mortal dare say so,
Ne'er am at loss with my Naso,
``Sire,'' I replied, ``joys prove cloudlets:
``Men are the merest Ixions''---
Here the King whistled aloud, ``Let's
``---Heigho---go look at our lions!''
Such are the sorrowful chances
If you talk fine to King Francis.
And so, to the courtyard proceeding,
Our company, Francis was leading,
Increased by new followers tenfold
Before be arrived at the penfold;
Lords, ladies, like clouds which bedizen
At sunset the western horizon.
And Sir De Lorge pressed 'mid the foremost
With the dame he professed to adore most.
Oh, what a face! One by fits eyed
Her, and the horrible pitside;
For the penfold surrounded a hollow
Which led where the eye scarce dared follow,
And shelved to the chamber secluded
Where Bluebeard, the great lion, brooded.
The King bailed his keeper, an Arab
As glossy and black as a scarab,*1
And bade him make sport and at once stir
Up and out of his den the old monster.
They opened a hole in the wire-work
Across it, and dropped there a firework,
And fled: one's heart's beating redoubled;
A pause, while the pit's mouth was troubled,
The blackness and silence so utter,
By the firework's slow sparkling and sputter;
Then earth in a sudden contortion
Gave out to our gaze her abortion.
Such a brute! Were I friend Clement Marot
(Whose experience of nature's but narrow,
And whose faculties move in no small mist
When he versifies David the Psalmist)
I should study that brute to describe you
_Illim Juda Leonem de Tribu_.
One's whole blood grew curdling and creepy
To see the black mane, vast and heapy,
The tail in the air stiff and straining,
The wide eyes, nor waxing nor waning,
As over the barrier which bounded
His platform, and us who surrounded
The barrier, they reached and they rested
On space that might stand him in best stead:
For who knew, he thought, what the amazement,
The eruption of clatter and blaze meant,
And if, in this minute of wonder,
No outlet, 'mid lightning and thunder,
Lay broad, and, his shackles all shivered,
The lion at last was delivered?
Ay, that was the open sky o'erhead!
And you saw by the flash on his forehead,
By the hope in those eyes wide and steady,
He was leagues in the desert already,
Driving the flocks up the mountain,
Or catlike couched hard by the fountain
To waylay the date-gathering negress:
So guarded he entrance or egress.
``How he stands!'' quoth the King: ``we may well swear,
(``No novice, we've won our spurs elsewhere
``And so can afford the confession,)
``We exercise wholesome discretion
``In keeping aloof from his threshold;
``Once hold you, those jaws want no fresh hold,
``Their first would too pleasantly purloin
``The visitor's brisket or surloin:
``But who's he would prove so fool-hardy?
``Not the best man of Marignan, pardie!''
The sentence no sooner was uttered,
Than over the rails a glove flattered,
Fell close to the lion, and rested:
The dame 'twas, who flung it and jested
With life so, De Lorge had been wooing
For months past; he sat there pursuing
His suit, weighing out with nonchalance
Fine speeches like gold from a balance.
Sound the trumpet, no true knight's a tarrier!
De Lorge made one leap at the barrier,
Walked straight to the glove,---while the lion
Neer moved, kept his far-reaching eye on
The palm-tree-edged desert-spring's sapphire,
And the musky oiled skin of the Kaffir,---
Picked it up, and as calmly retreated,
Leaped back where the lady was seated,
And full in the face of its owner
Flung the glove.
``Your heart's queen, you dethrone her?
``So should I!''---cried the King---``'twas mere vanity,
``Not love, set that task to humanity!''
Lords and ladies alike turned with loathing
From such a proved wolf in sheep's clothing.
Not so, I; for I caught an expression
In her brow's undisturbed self-possession
Amid the Court's scoffing and merriment,---
As if from no pleasing experiment
She rose, yet of pain not much heedful
So long as the process was needful,---
As if she had tried in a crucible,
To what ``speeches like gold'' were reducible,
And, finding the finest prove copper,
Felt the smoke in her face was but proper;
To know what she had _not_ to trust to,
Was worth all the ashes and dust too.
She went out 'mid hooting and laughter;
Clement Marot stayed; I followed after,
And asked, as a grace, what it all meant?
If she wished not the rash deed's recalment?
``For I''---so I spoke---``am a poet:
``Human nature,---behoves that I know it!''
She told me, ``Too long had I heard
``Of the deed proved alone by the word:
``For my love---what De Lorge would not dare!
``With my scorn---what De Lorge could compare!
``And the endless descriptions of death
``He would brave when my lip formed a breath,
``I must reckon as braved, or, of course,
``Doubt his word---and moreover, perforce,
``For such gifts as no lady could spurn,
``Must offer my love in return.
``When I looked on your lion, it brought
``All the dangers at once to my thought,
``Encountered by all sorts of men,
``Before he was lodged in his den,---
``From the poor slave whose club or bare hands
``Dug the trap, set the snare on the sands,
``With no King and no Court to applaud,
``By no shame, should he shrink, overawed,
``Yet to capture the creature made shift,
``That his rude boys might laugh at the gift,
``---To the page who last leaped o'er the fence
``Of the pit, on no greater pretence
``Than to get back the bonnet he dropped,
``Lest his pay for a week should be stopped.
``So, wiser I judged it to make
``One trial what `death for my sake'
``Really meant, while the power was yet mine,
``Than to wait until time should define
``Such a phrase not so simply as I,
``Who took it to mean just `to die.'
``The blow a glove gives is but weak:
``Does the mark yet discolour my cheek?
``But when the heart suffers a blow,
``Will the pain pass so soon, do you know?''
I looked, as away she was sweeping,
And saw a youth eagerly keeping
As close as he dared to the doorway.
No doubt that a noble should more weigh
His life than befits a plebeian;
And yet, had our brute been Nemean---
(I judge by a certain calm fervour
The youth stepped with, forward to serve her)
---He'd have scarce thought you did him the worst turn
If you whispered ``Friend, what you'd get, first earn!''
And when, shortly after, she carried
Her shame from the Court, and they married,
To that marriage some happiness, maugre
The voice of the Court, I dared augur.
For De Lorge, he made women with men vie,
Those in wonder and praise, these in envy;
And in short stood so plain a head taller
That he wooed and won ... how do you call her?
The beauty, that rose in the sequel
To the King's love, who loved her a week well.
And 'twas noticed he never would honour
De Lorge (who looked daggers upon her)
With the easy commission of stretching
His legs in the service, and fetching
His wife, from her chamber, those straying
Sad gloves she was always mislaying,
While the King took the closet to chat in,---
But of course this adventure came pat in.
And never the King told the story,
How bringing a glove brought such glory,
But the wife smiled---``His nerves are grown firmer:
``Mine he brings now and utters no murmur.''
_Venienti occurrite morbo!_
With which moral I drop my theorbo.
*1A beetle.
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Love Triangle: A Literary Criticism of Robert Browning's "The Glove"
Have you ever played a game where you had to choose between two things, and no matter what you chose, you would lose? That's what Robert Browning's "The Glove" feels like. It's a poem about a love triangle, but it's not your typical love triangle. It's a love triangle where the woman is in control, and the two men are begging for her attention.
In this literary criticism and interpretation, we're going to explore the themes of power, gender, and love in "The Glove" and how Browning uses language and structure to convey his message.
Structure and Language
Before we delve into the themes of the poem, let's take a look at the structure and language Browning uses. "The Glove" is a dramatic monologue, which means it's a poem spoken by a single person, but it's meant to be heard by a listener or readers. In this case, the speaker is the woman in the love triangle.
Browning uses a lot of repetition in the poem, particularly with the phrase "He said" and "she said." This repetition creates a sense of dialogue between the two men and the woman, even though the poem is spoken by just one person. It also emphasizes the woman's power in the situation, as the men are constantly responding to her words and actions.
The poem is also divided into stanzas of eight lines each, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCCDD. This structure creates a sense of order and control, which contrasts with the chaotic emotions of the characters in the poem. The rhyme scheme also creates a sense of tension, as the rhyming couplets at the end of each stanza create a sense of finality, even though the poem continues.
Browning also uses vivid imagery in the poem, particularly with the glove itself. The glove represents the woman's power and control in the situation, as it's the object that the two men are vying for. The description of the glove as "white, and warm, and soft, and fair" creates an image of something delicate and precious, which emphasizes its importance in the poem.
Power Dynamics
One of the main themes of "The Glove" is power dynamics, particularly between men and women. The poem portrays a situation where the woman has all the power, and the two men are desperate to win her favor.
The woman in the poem is portrayed as confident and in control. She throws her glove into a crowd of men and tells them that whoever retrieves it will win her favor. When one of the men retrieves the glove, she rejects him, saying that he's not good enough for her. When the second man retrieves the glove, she accepts him, but only as a plaything, not as a true lover.
The men in the poem, on the other hand, are portrayed as weak and desperate. They both beg for the woman's attention and are willing to do whatever it takes to win her favor. The first man even goes so far as to say that he'll die for her if she asks him to. This power dynamic reinforces traditional gender roles, where men are supposed to be the pursuers and women the pursued.
However, the poem also subverts these gender roles by portraying the woman as the one in control. She's the one who sets the terms of the game and decides which man to accept. She's not a passive object of desire, but an active participant in the situation.
Love and Desire
Another theme of "The Glove" is love and desire. The poem portrays a situation where love and desire are intertwined, but also separate.
The two men in the poem are driven by their desire for the woman, but it's unclear whether they actually love her. The first man seems to be more infatuated with the idea of winning her favor than with her as a person. He's willing to die for her, but he doesn't seem to know anything about her beyond her beauty.
The second man, on the other hand, seems to genuinely love the woman, but she doesn't feel the same way about him. She accepts him as a plaything, but she doesn't seem to truly care for him. This creates a sense of tragedy, as the man who loves the woman is unable to win her heart.
The woman in the poem is also driven by desire, but it's unclear whether she actually loves either of the men. She's attracted to their devotion and willingness to do anything for her, but she doesn't seem to have any deep emotional connection to either of them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Robert Browning's "The Glove" is a poem about a love triangle where the woman is in control, and the two men are vying for her favor. The poem explores themes of power, gender, love, and desire, using repetition, vivid imagery, and a structured rhyme scheme to convey its message.
The poem challenges traditional gender roles by portraying the woman as the one in control, but also reinforces them by portraying the men as weak and desperate. The poem also explores the relationship between love and desire, showing how the two can be intertwined but also separate.
Overall, "The Glove" is a complex and rich poem that rewards close reading and interpretation. It's a poem that raises more questions than answers, and that's part of what makes it so compelling.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Poetry Glove by Robert Browning is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful piece of literature that captures the essence of love, passion, and creativity. In this 2000-word analysis, we will delve deep into the poem and explore its themes, symbolism, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a glove that is embroidered with beautiful flowers and leaves. The glove is not just any ordinary glove, but a poetry glove that has been crafted with love and care. The speaker then goes on to describe how the glove was made by a lady who was deeply in love with a poet. She embroidered the glove with her own hands, and every stitch was a reflection of her love for the poet.
The symbolism of the glove is significant in this poem. The glove represents the lady's love for the poet and her desire to be close to him. The embroidery on the glove represents the lady's creativity and her ability to express her love through art. The glove is also a symbol of the poet's inspiration. The lady's love for the poet inspires him to create beautiful poetry that is filled with passion and emotion.
The poem then takes a turn as the speaker describes how the glove was lost. The lady lost the glove, and it was found by a stranger who did not understand its significance. The stranger sold the glove to a merchant who then sold it to the speaker. The speaker, who is also a poet, recognizes the beauty of the glove and is inspired by it. He sees the glove as a symbol of the lady's love for the poet and her creativity.
The theme of loss is prevalent in this poem. The loss of the glove represents the loss of the lady's love for the poet. The stranger who found the glove represents the people who do not understand the significance of love and art. The merchant who sold the glove represents the people who exploit art for profit. The speaker, who recognizes the beauty of the glove, represents the people who appreciate art and are inspired by it.
The poem then takes another turn as the speaker describes how he uses the glove as inspiration for his own poetry. He describes how the glove inspires him to create beautiful poetry that is filled with passion and emotion. He sees the glove as a symbol of the lady's love for the poet and her creativity, and he uses it as a muse for his own art.
The literary devices used in this poem are significant. The use of imagery is prevalent throughout the poem. The description of the glove and its embroidery is vivid and detailed, and it helps to create a visual image in the reader's mind. The use of symbolism is also significant. The glove represents the lady's love for the poet, her creativity, and the poet's inspiration. The use of personification is also present in the poem. The glove is personified as a muse that inspires the speaker's poetry.
The language used in the poem is also significant. The use of poetic language and imagery creates a sense of beauty and passion in the poem. The use of repetition in the poem, such as the repetition of the phrase "poetry glove," helps to emphasize the significance of the glove and its importance to the speaker.
In conclusion, The Poetry Glove by Robert Browning is a beautiful poem that captures the essence of love, passion, and creativity. The symbolism of the glove, the theme of loss, and the use of literary devices all contribute to the beauty and significance of the poem. The poem is a testament to the power of art and its ability to inspire and move people. It is a classic piece of literature that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
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