Browning's poem on Louis Napoleon, Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society, is his major ... more Browning's poem on Louis Napoleon, Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society, is his major statement on politics; it is also his most neglected work. The poems topicality, novel form, and complicated verse have collaborated to make it misunderstood and unpopular. A detailed examination of the poems history, structure, content, and allusions demonstrates that, when read within its proper framework, it is a masterly psychological study, a celebration of Browning's liberalism, and an important experiment in the dramatic monologue form. My purpose in this dissertation is to place and examine the poem within its proper textual, formal, topical, historical, and political context, and demonstrate that, contrary to previous opinion, Browning's view on Louis Napoleon is not ambivalent, but evident. The introductory chapter traces the poem's critical history, explains the reasons for its unpopularity, introduces its subject, and lists Browning's qualifications to write such a poem. Chapter 2 is concerned with textual matters. It argues for the use of the first edition as copy-text, traces the conception and development of the poem, and compares all relevant editions. Chapter 3 explains Browning's formal innovation of disguising a soliloquy as a dramatic monologue and, consequently, the need for a new methodology of interpretation. It argues that the poem is best understood when viewed as a play. Chapter 4 describes various references and allusions which are necessary for the modem reader's understanding and enjoyment of the poem. Chapter 5 covers the period of history depicted in the poem. It provides the necessary background for understanding the political arguments, and shows how both Browning and the Prince use the Prince's version of events to make their points. The final chapter deals with the relationship between Browning and the Prince from a political point of view; it examines the casuistic nature of the Prince's political philosophy, and the poet's attitude towards his subject based on Browning's works and letters.
Browning's poem on Louis Napoleon, Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society, is his major ... more Browning's poem on Louis Napoleon, Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society, is his major statement on politics; it is also his most neglected work. The poems topicality, novel form, and complicated verse have collaborated to make it misunderstood and unpopular. A detailed examination of the poems history, structure, content, and allusions demonstrates that, when read within its proper framework, it is a masterly psychological study, a celebration of Browning's liberalism, and an important experiment in the dramatic monologue form. My purpose in this dissertation is to place and examine the poem within its proper textual, formal, topical, historical, and political context, and demonstrate that, contrary to previous opinion, Browning's view on Louis Napoleon is not ambivalent, but evident. The introductory chapter traces the poem's critical history, explains the reasons for its unpopularity, introduces its subject, and lists Browning's qualifications to write such a poem. Chapter 2 is concerned with textual matters. It argues for the use of the first edition as copy-text, traces the conception and development of the poem, and compares all relevant editions. Chapter 3 explains Browning's formal innovation of disguising a soliloquy as a dramatic monologue and, consequently, the need for a new methodology of interpretation. It argues that the poem is best understood when viewed as a play. Chapter 4 describes various references and allusions which are necessary for the modem reader's understanding and enjoyment of the poem. Chapter 5 covers the period of history depicted in the poem. It provides the necessary background for understanding the political arguments, and shows how both Browning and the Prince use the Prince's version of events to make their points. The final chapter deals with the relationship between Browning and the Prince from a political point of view; it examines the casuistic nature of the Prince's political philosophy, and the poet's attitude towards his subject based on Browning's works and letters.
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