Prospice by Robert Browning - Summary

 Brief summary

This poem is one of the well-known dramatic monologues of Browning. It raises his recurring infatuation of transcending death and the belief of life after death as hailed in Hindu mythology. The title of the poem is revealing too as the meaning of the word "prospice" in Latin is to "look forward". Browning stands against the mighty death as he is a fighter and he insinuates that this could be his "the best and the last" fight. He knows it very well that despite being a brave man, he could not straightaway beat death, he is ready to embrace death like "the heroes of old". He can imagine that all the "pain, darkness and cold accompanying death end in "a minute". It is merely a task of holding on for moments of anguish, then calmness will prevail. A divine light will appear followed by his beloved, whom he has been missing for in his lifetime and finally with her and the God.

Literary devices

"fear...feel...fog...face" - alliteration

"power...press...post" - alliteration

rhyme scheme - abab...

Detailed explanation

The narrator begins his poem by asking a rhetorical question, whether should he fear death. Well, we know the answer. Our hero Browning never loses his optimism, that too against death? Never in a million years. Here, he climbs a mountain in rough weather of heavy snowfall and shivering cold. He is almost there on the top. Though it is a perilous journey where storm and night complicate the situation. The comparison between climbing a summit and a person on a deathbed is undeniable. The top symbolises the attainment of death, made desirable by Browning. The "Arch fear" i.e. death waits here. The strong man has to face defeat at hands of death and it is his reward. Our narrator never gives up.

"I was ever a fighter, so - one fight more,

The best and the last"

He is aware that it would be his last battle and he would make it memorable. Inevitably, death has injured him and taking him away with him. He doesn't want death to be hasty in pulling him to underworld as he likes an honorable death like his ancient idols who bade the world after minutes of misery and flashbacks of their life, hopes, ambitions, regrets and finally entered into a serene state. All internal chaos end and finally there appears, a divine light i.e. his beloved's soul and he wishes to embrace it and God too and stay with them forever.