Summary and Analysis of “Appendix D.2-D.5: Review of ‘Casa Guidi Windows’”

Summaries

From [Guiseppe Mazzini], “Europe: Its Conditions and Prospects”, Westminster Review (April 1852): 236-50

                Mazzini first underlines the fact that the literature of the first half of the 19^th century was linked to the political context of the time: “The literature of the Continent during the last few years has been essentially political, revolutionary, and warlike.” Then he explains the ideas of change and revolution which were spread through Europe at his time. Eventually Mazzini explains that this change is unavoidable and England should take part in it.

From “Mrs. Browning’s New Poem”, The Leader (14 June 1851) : 560-61

                First, we are reminded of Mrs. Browning’s talent and also of the weaknesses in her writing. Then the author said that Casa Guidi Windows demarcates of her previous writings: “In her Casa Guidi Windows we notice an immense improvement”. Finally the author declares that according to him the second part of the poem is better than the first one.

From [Henry Fothergrill Chorley], “Poems before Congress”, The Athenaeum 1690 (17 March 1860) : 371-72

                In this short text Chorley explains that the political dimension in Browning’s Poems before Congress has taken a too big part to the detriment of the poetic dimension. Then he gives an example of this political dimension in her poetry by quoting “A Curse of Nation”. Finally he says that Mrs. Browning is still a great poetess in her time.

Analysis

                These three texts give us an idea of the political context in Europe during the 19^th century and they also present two different opinions about Elizabeth Browning’s work about this period.  Mazzini’s text presents the context in Europe during the 19^th century and he insists on change. Indeed, according to him, the idea of absolutism is not as much as strong than it was in the past: “Europe […] no longer believes in the sanctity of royal races… She has invented the political axiom, “Kings reign without governing;” wherever they govern and govern badly, she overthrows them”. To Mazzini, revolutions through Europe are an inevitable consequence of absolutism and privileges: “Now look at the organization of Europe – is it not altogether based upon privilege, by whatever name it may be know ? How then can one wonder at the struggle which is engendered within it ?”. Mazzini also explains that England has to take part in the struggle for liberty: “If England persist in maintaining this neutral, passive, selfish part, she must expiate it. European transformation is inevitable”.

                This political context and this period of change has led to a lot of writings. Elizabeth Browning’s “Casa Guidi Windows” is one of them. In the text “Mrs. Browning’s New Poem”, the author clearly says that this poem is a great achievement and that according to him Browning’s poetry is better thanks to her presence in Italy during the events she tells: “the actual experience of the things she utters in musical creativeness has given a graver and more touching tone to the rhythm of her thoughts”. Nevertheless he makes a distinction between the parts of the poem and says that “the whole of the first part is inferior, we think of the second, written three years afterwards, in 1851, when all the hopes of Italy had been frustrated”. We can wonder if the author’s opinion is only based on Browning’s poetic work in these two parts or if it is based on the difference of tone due to the evolution of the events that occurred in Italy.

                A different opinion is given in Chorley’s text. To him, Browning’s main default in her work Poems before Congress is that it is more focused on the political context and events than on her poetry: “She is more political than poetical”; “It must be remarked that Mrs. Browning’s Art suffers from the violence of her temper. Choosing to scold, she forgets how to sing”. This statement is very different from the previous text’ author. However, Chorley asserts than Elizabeth Browning remains one of the greatest poetess of her time: “Mrs. Browning is, as before, a real poetess – One of the few among the few, - one who has written, in her time, better than the best of English poetesses”.