In the Dramatic Monologue "The Patriot", Robert Browning uses imagery to show his glory in the beginning and tragic end of his life in the end. In the beginning, the patriot says that when he came back from a war after winning, there were "roses, rose...with myrtle". In addition, there were so manyRead more
In the Dramatic Monologue “The Patriot”, Robert Browning uses imagery to show his glory in the beginning and tragic end of his life in the end.
In the beginning, the patriot says that when he came back from a war after winning, there were “roses, rose…with myrtle”. In addition, there were so many people on the roofs of houses (to welcome him) that “house-roofs seemed to heave and sway” and the flags were waving on the top of Churches. It looked like “church-spires flamed”. All these images show how Patriot was treated by the people when he came victoriously.
However, after 1 year, he is going to be executed because he tried to do too much for them. Now, nobody praises or supports him. There are “just a palsied few at the window set”. The word “palsied” depicts their cold behaviour towards the Patriot. However most of them have gathered to see him hanging. It is raining and he is bleeding as people are throwing stones at him.
He describes his execution scene as follows, “Thus I entered, and thus I go!” meaning that he was not giving a moment and stoned to death.
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Poonam Sharma
In this poem, we find three important things which the poet is trying to depict. 1. First, the people change and so their sentiments. The people praised the patriot a lot on his victory and loyalty for the country. However after a year, the same people were either cursing him or throwing stones at hRead more
In this poem, we find three important things which the poet is trying to depict.
1. First, the people change and so their sentiments. The people praised the patriot a lot on his victory and loyalty for the country. However after a year, the same people were either cursing him or throwing stones at him till he died.
The reason for such a hate among the people was some sort of misunderstanding. Once a big fan of the patriot are now haters of him. However the patriot has no complains against them as he believes that his love and loyalty for the country will finally be rewarded in the afterlife.
2. Second important thing worth noticing in the poem is poet’s and patriot’s optimism. In spite of being betrayed by his country and the people because of misunderstanding, the patriot remains optimistic. While he is taken to be executed, he says that he will be rewarded for his bravery in the afterlife. It shows patriot and thus the poet’s belief in God. It is this belief which makes people optimistic and hopeful even in the worst and fatal situations like the one in the poem.
3. Third important thing I find in the poem is the idea of war. It is rightly said “everything is fair in love and war”. Throughout the history, war has always harmed humanity. The patriot being a loyal soldier of his country kills other people who are also brave soldiers of their countries. However, as he is victorious, he is praised, but after a year, he too suffers the same fate. Hence war a curse on humanity.
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