Question : Essay-type
Consider Browning’s philosophy of life with reference to his poem,”Rabbi ben Ezra”.
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| Robert Browning [1812-1889] |
Introduction
Browning’s philosophy of life was based on certain fundamental principles. His firm faith in God and His divinity, his belief in the immortality of soul and doctrine of rebirth, his robust optimism, and his belief in the perfection of soul through love and knowledge were the guiding principles of his philosophy of life. Browning has explained this in his poems elaborately.
Browning had firm faith in God and His divinity. He did not believe in pantheism as Wordsworth did. Browning’s God is merciful. In “Pippa Passes” Browning writes–
“God’s in His heaven
All’s right with the world!”
Browning’s Outlook Towards God In Rabbi ben Ezra
In “Rabbi ben Ezra” Browning says that He (God) plans man’s life as one whole. He provides all His creatures with the basic necessaries of life. He is the Giver. We are the receivers. Happiness or sorrow, fortune or misfortune–everything comes from God. We should, therefore, welcome everything that comes to us from God. We should greet the joyful as well as the painful.
Browning’s View of Love
According to Browning, the purpose of the soul in a life is to make spiritual progress through knowledge and love. He is universally acknowledged as a great poet of love. According to him, love is God and God is love. Love combined with power and knowledge leads man to perfection. He has treated various kinds of love in his poetry. There are poems on successful love and unsuccessful love, poems on married love and unmarried love. According to him, love is the supreme object in man’s life. He writes in “God, Thou Art Love”–
“God! Thou art love! Build my faith on that.”
Elsewhere he writes in “The Guardian Angel”-
“O world, as God has made it! All is beauty:
And knowing this is love, and love is duty.”
Browning’s View Of Life In Rabbi ben Ezra
Browning has beautifully discussed the purpose of life in his famous poem,“Rabbi ben Ezra.” Rabbi says that purpose of life is to add to the perfection of soul through knowledge and sublime thoughts. God is the Eternal Potter. Time is His revolving wheel. The soul is the clay in His wheel. Rabbi ben Ezra places himself into the hands of God.
Conclusion
So, we find that Browning believes in the immortality of soul. He believes that the soul passes through innumerable lives one after another. He shuns escapism and recommends the performance of one’s own duty. Love is the chief motivating force in life. Love is God, and love is duty. Evil can never triumph over good. Human life is a part of the universal life. One should have firm faith in God and His divinity.
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Related Question
Write a comprehensive note on Browning as a poet of robust optimism.
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