A Report On Robert Browning’s Poem The Patriot

Introduction

About the Poet

Robert Browning was an English poet, best known for his dramatic monologue which made him one of the most prominent Victorian poets. His poems are known for their satire, characters, humor, views on society, history, and ambitious word utilization and syntax. He has indited many masterpieces some of which include ‘My Last Duchess’ and ‘Andrea del Sarto’and even ‘Pied Piper.’ Browning’s early vocation had commenced promisingly but collapsed. The long poems Pauline and Paracelsus received some praise, but in 1840, the arduous Sordello, which was not well-received among his fans, brought his poetry into question. His reputation took more than a decennium to recuperate, during which time he moved away from the Shelleyan forms of his early period and developed a more personal style. Later, he perpetuated inditing prolifically, but as of today, his reputation reposes mainly on his first and middle works.

About the poem

The poem is a monologue of a ‘patriot’ who tells of this unfortunate setting as he has been taken for execution publicly. He tells us how he was once very well-doted by everyone and how he became misprized. The patriot was irreprehensible of having done any misdeeds, and it was only out of the misunderstanding of the people that he was being put to capital punishment. His death sentence was for an erroneous cause, and albeit he had endeavored to persuade the people to listen to him, although it did not work. ‘The Patriot’ is an acerbic critique of public sentiment and morality. It stresses the detail, that not all decisions made or fortified by the people are the right decisions, or even in their interests. The poem is universal in its right, as history has witnessed the rise and fall of many such ‘Patriots.’

Stanza wise explanation

In the first stanza, the poet narrates, how before everyone adored him and how they organized a grand welcome for him. The entire scene was one of bliss and joy with extremely enthralled people cheering from the balconies of their homes. We assume that this festivity must be a result of some achievement. Perhaps it was a triumph in the war, or the assemblage for fighting one, or winning a popular election to an office, or being nominated as a swayer, or maybe something else. It can be assumed at this point in the poem, that the events concerned the common masses highly, and they were ecstatic about the affair.

In the second stanza, the poet is describing the scene of his welcome. The sound of the bells was so loud that they shook the walls of the houses. At that moment the people were so much happy, that if the patriot had asked them to bring him the sun from the skies, they would have replied, ‘And afterward, what else’? In other words, they were happily willing to do whatever the patriot would have asked.

In the third stanza, the poet illustrates as to what he did to get executed. He says that he was too enthusiastic with his actions, and relates it to the tale of Icarus. Icarus was a Greek mythological persona who flew too close to the sun and got killed. The poet then comments upon losing his best friends to the sun, which could mean they were dead. Further, he conveys that he tried everything in his capability to deliver justice, and it never crossed his mind that he would be executed for it.

Furthermore, he says that this is not the fate he truly deserves. The speaker snaps back to the present day and describes his environment. He describes the current scene in a way that contrasts it with the one on the same day a year ago. There are many contrasts to the first stanza, being: the place is all vacuous, there is nobody around him. His only audience is a few older men who gaze at him from their balconies (not downstairs as they seem to be struck down with palsy) and are watching the patriot as he bravely proceeds towards his demise. The reason for the absence of the crowd is that people have assembled at the Shambles’ gate to witness the execution. The people want to look on at the execution first hand (hoping not to miss the action). The speaker adds that the view is best from the gate of the abattoir.

The fifth stanza perpetuates where the last left off and further describes the speaker’s plight. The poet elaborates the setting even more. It is raining while the speaker walks towards the scaffold, which also darkens the ambiance. He clarifies that the rope tied around his hand has cut his wrists. He has now arrived at the ‘Shambles Gate’ where all the people are amassed. The patriot is now sure that the grim reaper of death has finally cornered him. Suddenly, he feels blood trickling down his head and phases back in reality again to realize that the angry onlookers are hurling stones at him. He explains that the people throwing stones are the ones who know of his actions and the repercussions. Here, the poet uses irony by speaking about the mentality of the illiterate the common folk. Despite the treatment he is receiving, he does not inculpate the people; he knows that they have misunderstood him.

In the last stanza, the poet awaiting death lets a sigh of relief, for even in defeat he is triumphant by standing by what he felt is right and doing the right thing. He believes that he is in the hands of God now and will be fairly judged by his actions and receive the merit he deserves.

Relevance in today’s world

‘The Patriot’ is about how the popularity and downfall are the two sides of the same coin, very much in relevance throughout history. The common folk are often moved by the media (present-day) and can give anyone the status of a god and the next moment of a demon. That is the experience of most of the celebrities nowadays. One minute one is the very best, the following – yesterday’s news. The public behavior is a powerful thing, keeps on evolving. Before the patriot was worshiped like a god, but now everyone was waiting for his execution.

One of the better examples in history, the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam war was considered to be a colossal blunder on the government’s part. Since most of the country’s money was being put to military aid in Vietnam, the U.S. economy suffered greatly. The president at the time, Lyndon B. Johnson, was only into his second year of the presidency when he decided to send U.S. troops into Vietnam. His decision had an adverse reaction with U.S. citizens actively opposing the war as it was hurting their economy and lives. In the long run, the U.S. government realized that it made a wrong decision in sending U.S. troops into Vietnam.

One also finds many examples in the sports industry. For example, in the cricket industry, it is hard to forget the unfortunate case of Mohammad Azharuddin and Hansie Cronje. Azharuddin put up numbers that were never seen before, and Hansie was the captain of the first-ever South African team to play in a world cup. Both players were exceptionally skilled, but due to their match-fixing scandals were banned for a large portion of their careers. Hansie was given a life ban which was never appealed while Azharuddin also received a life ban which was luckily for him, appealed.

Conclusion

At the start of the poem, the poet gives the details of an effusive welcome in a nostalgic mood. The poet gives a description of the situation after the passage of one year. Here the tone gets lamenting as the poem moves forward. The overall tone and mood of the poem is down-beating.

The dramatic irony lies in the situation of the popularity and downfall of the political leader. It springs out from; how the people who were at the beck and call of their leader, treat him as a traitor after passing a year. 

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