Browning's Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister
A monk becomes the brunt of vehement anger in Robert Browning's poem"Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister." Using sarcastic remarks and cruelmetaphors, the speaker directs his diatribe directly to Brother Lawrence,criticizing him for being impious, lustful, and greedy and comparing him toa swine. The setting of the soliloquy adds a dose of irony to the poem, asthe speaker's tone is anything but peaceful as a cloister should be. Inaddition to the setting, Browning's rhyme and meter aptly convey the fierytone of the poem. Likewise, diction is replete with hellish imagery andharsh words that fit the speaker's ire. Poetic elements like diction,meter, rhyme, and imagery work together in "Soliloquy of the SpanishCloister" to create an ironic poem that lambastes a monk. The tone of Browning's poem is angry, resentful, and even hateful,indicated clearly by his diction. Moreover, the narrator's word selec
Browning skillfullyemploys meter and rhyme scheme to convey the tone, in addition to intensediction and dark imagery. The narrator describes "brown Dolores"squatting and washing her hair as Brother Lawrence lusts after her with hisglowing "dead eye," (25; 30). The verses revealthe narrator's disgust with impious, hypocritical monks who profess to bespiritual while they cultivate lust and materialism. Also, when describing what would otherwise be pleasant,such as Brother Lawrence's flowers, the speaker instead says, "Water yourdamned flowerpots, do!" (2). The imagery created by such strong diction is dramatic, especially asit also coincides with the monastic setting. Punctuation,such as frequent question marks and exclamation points, also add drama andintensity to the speaker's voice. Using a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme, Browning adds a musical qualityto his verses. "Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister" is filled with irony, as its tone,diction, and imagery contrast sharply with the setting. tionmirrors his accusations of Brother Lawrence as being impious; the imageryis deliberately religious in nature but with an evil, hellish bent. Furthermore, the speaker compares Brother Lawrence to a swinetwice in the poem: once in verse two, line 16; and again in the final lineof the poem. As if no actual word can convey the speaker'sdisgust with Brother Lawrence, the poem begins and ends with a growl: "Gr-r-r," (1; 72). Thus, the meter and rhyme scheme areappropriate for conveying the narrator's anger. He even curses in a blasphemous manner, as when hecries, "God's blood, would not mine kill you!" (4). In verse three, the narrator sarcasticallycomments on the monogrammed goblet by saying, "Ere 'tis fit to touch ourchaps," (22). Strong imagery in verse four of the poem refersto colonialism as well as lust.
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