Robert Browning's "The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxed's Cathedral" displays the flagrant corruption and scandal plaguing the sixteenth-century Catholic Church. Browning again presents a dramatic monologue, this time from the voice of a fictional bishop on his deathbed. This approach functions well in the poem -- adding the excitement, intimacy and uncertainty that a simple narrative would lack while sustaining both the details of the subject and the theme. Furthermore, in writing through the voice of the bishop, the poet reveals some insight into speaker's character and those of the others mentioned.
From his deathbed, the bishop begins as any man of God would, quoting biblical verses that scorn vanity. The bishop, however, then goes on to order lavish and expensive arrangements for his tomb. Through his extravagant commands we learn more and more of his greed and hypocrisy. He seems insatiable in attempts to out do the previous bishop, Gandolf. The bishop remains irritated by the position of Gandolf's tomb, which he considers the best spot. Thus, he resigns himself to out doing his predecessor with the luxury of his tomb. As the poem continues the bishops describes his tomb in every detail and even changes his mind several times. Surpassing a dead man takes precedence even on his deathbed.
I found this poem both humorous and slightly disturbing. Though one can laugh at he ridiculous demands of the bishop, it bothers me that people actually did live and think this way. It reminded me a lot of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales in describing the corruption and worldliness of the church. Throughout the poem, the bishop is so concerned with his tomb; he fails to realize the scope of his own death. Instead of humbling himself to God or reflecting on his life, the pompous bishop focuses on appearance. He believes that once placed in his tomb he will "hear the blessed mutter of mass
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