Attitudes Toward Death In Prospice And The Laboratory

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Compare and contrast how attitudes towards death are presented in Prospice and The Laboratory by Robert Browning. In both poems Prospice and The Laboratory, Browning conveys the semantic field of death however with opposing attitudes using a variety of literary techniques throughout the poems. In Prospice Browning owns a positive attitude towards death whereas in The Laboratory the female narrator is plotting someone else’s death thus having negative connotations. Prospice depicts Browning possessing an optimistic and peaceful approach to death because he believes this will reunite him with his deceased wife Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The first stanza of the poem begins with the rhetorical question “Fear death?” Included by Browning as if to challenge the readers who fear death themselves; their approach to death ultimately juxtaposes to Browning’s himself. Browning’s optimism towards death is confirmed by the connotations of heaven which can be seen in …show more content…

Furthermore, Browning’s valiant approach to death is confirmed where it says in the text “I would hate that death bandaged my eyes”. This is included by Browning in order to demonstrate how he does not fear death and is willing to physically see his death coming if it means that he is reunited with his wife. Browning’s brave attitude towards death is justified through the quote “the worst turns the best to the brave” which is representative of the suffering he faced without his wife which has consequently has turned him brave enough to finally face death. It is clear that Browning’s motivation behind his lack of fear surrounding death is due to the fact that he longs to be reunited with Elizabeth and this is verified in the poem where it says “O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee

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