'Protus' by Robert Browning
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Among these latter busts we count by scores,
Half-emperors and quarter-emperors,
Each with his bay-leaf fillet, loose-thonged vest,
Loricand low-browed Gorgon on the breast,---
One loves a baby face, with violets there,
Violets instead of laurel in the hair,
As those were all the little locks could bear.
Now read here.``Protus ends a period
``Of empery beginning with a god;
``Born in the porphyry chamber at Byzant,
``Queens by his cradle, proud and ministrant:
``And if he quickened breath there, 'twould like fire
``Pantingly through the dim vast realm transpire.
``A fame that he was missing spread afar:
``The world from its four corners, rose in war,
``Till he was borne out on a balcony
``To pacify the world when it should see.
``The captains ranged before him, one, his hand
``Made baby points at, gained the chief command.
``And day by day more beautiful he grew
``In shape, all said, in feature and in hue,
``While young Greek sculptors, gazing on the child,
``Because with old Greek sculptore reconciled.
``Already sages laboured to condense
``In easy tomes a life's experience:
``And artists took grave counsel to impart
``In one breath and one hand-sweep, all their art---
``To make his graces prompt as blossoming
``Of plentifully-watered palms in spring:
``Since well beseems it, whoso mounts the throne,
``For beauty, knowledge, strength, should stand alone,
``And mortals love the letters of his name.''
---Stop! Have you turned two pages? Still the same.
New reign, same date.The scribe goes on to say
How that same year, on such a month and day,
``John the Pannonian, groundedly believed
``A Blacksmith's bastard, whose hard hand reprieved
``The Empire from its fate the year before,---
``Came, had a mind to take the crown, and wore
``The same for six years (during which the Huns
``Kept off their fingers from us), till his sons
``Put something in his liquor''---and so forth.
Then a new reign.Stay---``Take at its just worth''
(Subjoins an annotator) ``what I give
``As hearsay.Some think, John let Protus live
``And slip away.'Tis said, he reached man's age
``At some blind northern court; made, first a page,
``Then tutor to the children; last, of use
``About the hunting-stables.I deduce
``He wrote the little tract `On worming dogs,'
``Whereof the name in sundry catalogues
``Is extant yet.A Protus of the race
``Is rumoured to have died a monk in Thrace,---
``And if the same, he reached senility.''
Here's John the Smith's rough-hammered head.Great eye,
Gross jaw and griped lips do what granite can
To give you the crown-grasper.What a man!
Editor 1 Interpretation
An In-Depth Look into Robert Browning's "Protus"
As one of the most prominent poets of the Victorian era, Robert Browning has established himself as a master of dramatic monologues. His works deal with complex themes such as love, religion, and identity, and his poetic style is characterized by his use of language, rhythm, and structure to convey his message. Among his many works, "Protus" stands out as a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of identity, perception, and reality. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will delve into the complexities of "Protus" and shed light on its deeper meaning.
Summary of "Protus"
"Protus" is a dramatic monologue that tells the story of a man who is struggling to come to terms with his identity. The speaker of the poem, who remains unnamed, is a man who has lost his memory and cannot remember who he is or where he came from. Throughout the poem, he is visited by several people who claim to know him, including his wife, his children, and his old friends. However, each of these people describes him differently, and their descriptions do not match up. As a result, the speaker becomes increasingly confused and frustrated, and he begins to question his own existence.
The poem is structured in six stanzas, each consisting of ten lines. The first stanza sets the scene and introduces the speaker, who is depicted as a man lost in a world he does not recognize. The second stanza introduces the speaker's wife, who claims to know him and tries to bring back his memories. The third and fourth stanzas introduce the speaker's children and his old friends, who also claim to know him. However, their descriptions of him are conflicting, and the speaker becomes more and more confused.
In the fifth stanza, the speaker begins to question the nature of reality and perception. He asks whether his memories are real or just illusions created by the people around him. He also wonders whether he is the same person he was before he lost his memory or whether he has been transformed into someone else entirely. In the final stanza, the speaker comes to the realization that he may never know the truth about his identity. He resigns himself to his fate and accepts that he will always be a mystery to himself and to others.
Analysis of "Protus"
At its core, "Protus" is a meditation on the nature of identity and the human condition. Through the speaker's experience of losing his memory, Browning explores the idea that our sense of self is not fixed but rather fluid and subject to change. The speaker's confusion and frustration are a reflection of the human experience of grappling with the question of who we are and what makes us unique.
One of the key themes of the poem is the idea of perception and reality. The speaker is constantly bombarded with conflicting descriptions of himself from the people around him, which leads him to question the nature of truth and whether it is even possible to know who we truly are. This theme is particularly relevant in today's society, where the line between reality and illusion is becoming increasingly blurred.
Another theme that Browning explores in "Protus" is the idea of memory and its relationship to identity. The speaker's loss of memory strips him of his sense of self and leaves him adrift in a world that he does not recognize. This raises the question of whether our memories are an essential part of who we are and whether we can truly know ourselves without them.
Browning's use of language in "Protus" is particularly noteworthy. The poem is written in a conversational tone, with the speaker directly addressing the reader. This gives the poem a sense of immediacy and intimacy, as if the speaker is confiding in us. The use of repetition and rhetorical questions also adds to the poem's sense of urgency and helps to emphasize the speaker's confusion and frustration.
The structure of the poem is also significant. The use of six stanzas, each consisting of ten lines, creates a sense of symmetry and balance. This gives the poem a sense of order and structure, which is in contrast to the speaker's sense of disorientation and confusion. The use of enjambment also adds to the poem's sense of flow and movement, as if the speaker's thoughts are spilling out onto the page.
Interpretation of "Protus"
At its core, "Protus" is a deeply existential poem that raises profound questions about the nature of identity, reality, and perception. The speaker's experience of losing his memory and being confronted with conflicting descriptions of himself speaks to the human experience of grappling with the question of who we are and what makes us unique.
One possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on the postmodern condition. The speaker's confusion and frustration are a reflection of the postmodern idea that the self is no longer fixed but rather fluid and subject to change. The conflicting descriptions of the speaker also speak to the postmodern idea that truth is subjective and that there is no objective reality.
Another possible interpretation of the poem is that it is a critique of the traditional notion of the self. The speaker's loss of memory and his inability to remember who he is may be seen as a rejection of the idea that the self is a fixed and unchanging entity. The poem may be read as a call for a more fluid and open conception of the self that is not bound by tradition or convention.
Ultimately, the power of "Protus" lies in its ability to provoke thought and stimulate reflection. It raises questions that are fundamental to the human experience and challenges us to examine our own notions of identity and reality. In this sense, the poem is not only a work of art but also a philosophical inquiry that speaks to the deepest concerns of the human condition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Protus" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores the nature of identity, perception, and reality. Through the speaker's experience of losing his memory and being confronted with conflicting descriptions of himself, Browning raises profound questions about the nature of the self and the human condition. The poem's use of language, structure, and imagery creates a sense of immediacy and urgency that draws us in and forces us to confront these questions head-on. "Protus" is a testament to Browning's mastery of the dramatic monologue and his ability to use poetry to explore the deepest concerns of the human soul.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Protus: A Masterpiece of Robert Browning
Robert Browning, one of the most celebrated poets of the Victorian era, is known for his dramatic monologues that explore the complexities of human nature. Among his many works, Poetry Protus stands out as a masterpiece that showcases Browning's mastery of the form. This poem, which was published in 1871, is a dramatic monologue that tells the story of a poet named Protus who struggles to find his voice and express his ideas. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and language of Poetry Protus to understand why it is considered one of Browning's greatest works.
Themes
At its core, Poetry Protus is a poem about the creative process and the struggle to find one's voice. The speaker, Protus, is a poet who is frustrated with his inability to express his ideas in a way that satisfies him. He feels that his poetry is lacking in substance and that he is not living up to his potential as a writer. This theme of artistic frustration is one that Browning explores in many of his works, and it is particularly relevant to Poetry Protus.
Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of self-discovery. Protus is on a journey to find his true self and to understand what he wants to say as a poet. He is constantly questioning himself and his abilities, and he is searching for a way to break through the barriers that are holding him back. This theme of self-discovery is one that resonates with many readers, as we all struggle to find our place in the world and to understand our own identities.
Structure
Poetry Protus is structured as a dramatic monologue, which is a form that Browning used frequently in his poetry. In this form, the speaker is a character who is not the poet himself, but who speaks in the first person and reveals his or her thoughts and feelings to the reader. The dramatic monologue is a powerful form because it allows the reader to enter into the mind of the speaker and to experience the emotions and ideas that are being expressed.
In Poetry Protus, the speaker is Protus himself, and the poem is structured as a series of stanzas that are each composed of four lines. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABAB, which gives it a musical quality and helps to create a sense of rhythm and flow. The poem is also divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of Protus's struggle as a poet.
Language
One of the most striking aspects of Poetry Protus is the language that Browning uses to convey the speaker's emotions and ideas. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphors that help to bring Protus's inner world to life. For example, in the first stanza, Protus describes his poetry as "a bird that flutters in the cage of words." This metaphor captures the sense of frustration and confinement that Protus feels as a poet, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
Throughout the poem, Browning also uses language to create a sense of tension and conflict. Protus is constantly struggling against the limitations of language and the expectations of his audience. He feels that he is not being true to himself as a poet, and he is searching for a way to break free from the constraints that are holding him back. This tension is heightened by the use of repetition and rhetorical questions, which create a sense of urgency and intensity.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Poetry Protus is a masterpiece of Victorian poetry that explores the themes of artistic frustration and self-discovery. Through the use of the dramatic monologue form, Browning creates a powerful and intimate portrait of a poet who is struggling to find his voice. The language of the poem is rich and evocative, and it captures the emotional complexity of Protus's journey. Overall, Poetry Protus is a testament to Browning's skill as a poet and his ability to capture the human experience in all its complexity.
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