OPTIMISM IN A POEM ‘THE LAST RIDE TOGETHER’ BY ROBERT BOWNING

Abstract

Robert Browning is eminent optimistic poet of Victorian period. He has also a mastery over using a poetic form named as Dramatic Monologue. His poems imbibed with optimistic thought. His deliberation and debate over any matter is so strong that he does not escapes from his point of view until he does not conclude which is expected to him. The Last Ride Together is no exception to this. The poem is full of optimistic thoughts. After long love-pursuit, lady rejected a lover and though, in a mood of disappointment, he put forward a proposal of riding before her, as she has some place for him in her heart, she accepts for riding. The poet says that he had failed in his love, but there are number of people failed in their work, how many people became successful and how many among them failed. He claims that more people than become successful. Later, he asks artisans that people forget real art for which he spoils his whole life, on looking at a beautiful girl. He also asks musicians, that his lyric also became old by new songs and poets also uses imaginative things about which they have no experience. Lastly, he concludes, that his life is better than all this people as, he was riding with his beloved and it gives immense joy to his heart.