Honan, 1974). Eliza Flower , with whom Browning
             was infatuated was an influence in Browning's aethism. She was one of the primary influences that turned
             Browning away from the Christianity of his mother. His other influence, the writing of Shelley, a known
             aethist, taught Browning to be an independent free thinker. After reading Shelley's book, Queen Mab ,
             Browning became an aethist and a vegetarian(DeVane & Smalley, 1984). He rejected his mother's world to
             gain a sense of liberty and independence(Irvine & Honan, 1974). This faith change at such an early age
             seemed to lead to a continual spiritual inconsistency throughout his life. Browning had trouble accepting
             any faith or religion he chose to follow and often questioned his judgment in faith related decisions. Robert
             Browning considered Shelley to be moral because he was "true, simple hearted and brave"(cited in Payne,
             1967, p.198). He found him to also be a man of religious mind because Shelley was "everywhere taking for
             granted some of the capital dogmas of Christianity, while most vehemently denying their historical
             basement" (cited in Payne, 1967, p.199). Browning clearly possessed a great respect for Shelley which
             followed him through much of his early poetry. Browning's life was "fundamentally affected"(Miller, 1953,
             p.9) by the Shelley's writing. During his adolescence, Browning may have recognized Shelley's, "fearless
             spiritual independence"(Miller, 1953, p.9). He noticed a "principal of conduct whereby to measure in the
             years to come not only the sum of his own poetic achievement but the very nature of human integrity
             itself"(Miller, 1953, p.9). Although there is no available poetry written before his first published work,
             Pauline, his early aethism is still reflected in his early poetry.
             Robert Browning eloped to Italy with Elizabeth Barret. Upon meeting his extremely religious
             wife and with h...