The document discusses the dramatic monologue, a poetic form where a character speaks their thoughts out loud without interruption. A dramatic monologue differs from a soliloquy in that there is an implied second person being addressed. Robert Browning helped develop and perfect the dramatic monologue through works like "Fra Lippo Lippi" and "The Last Ride Together." Browning's monologues can be interpreted in multiple ways and portray characters justifying their actions through religious rationalizations, though these may contain half-truths. The monologues also serve as a form of satire or commentary on human folly.

1. The Dramatic Monologue
“The Dramatic Monologue” is dramatic becauseit the utterance of imagery
characters and not of the poet himself and becausein it character is developed
not through any description on the part of the poet but through a conflict
between the opposite thoughts and emotions of the character himself. It is a
monologue becauseit is a conversation of a single individual with himself.
A dramatic monologue is very much like a soliloquy- one man’s speech but
there is a difference between the two. In a soliloquy the speaker delivers his
own thoughts without being interrupted by objections or opposition of the
other person. In the dramatic monologuethere is a presenceof a second
person to whomthe thoughts of speak are presented through the second man,
does not interruptthe main speaker.
Some of the dramatic monologues are in the formof soliloquy says Allen
Brockington. The dramatic monologue was cultivated and developed by
Browning with great success. Thedramatic monologuewas developed with
great skill and it almost attained perfection. Like in Fra Lippo Lippi, The last
Ride Together, Andrea Del Sarto etc.
Monologues of Browning are highly suggestive. The speech of the main actors
can be interpreted in more than one way. The characters in these monologues
believe in God and justified their deeds and actions by attributing to God’s will
.Browning dramatic monologues are mixtures of half truths and false hood.
They are truthful records but defenses represented in a tricky and subtle style.
In the opinion of some critics the dramatic monologues are satires upon
characters.They appear to be an exposition of their follies. As in the “LastRide
Together” is a defense of the lover, who failed me his love and so in Andrea
Del Sarto. The last Ride Together is rich in beautiful passagemarked with a real
charmof language. Browning philosophy of life is best broughtout in the
dramatic monologues.