Scientific Thought in Robert Browning's Poetry

Abstract

This is specifically a study of references and allusions to scientific facts and ideas in Browning's poetry, with the aim of finding out in detail how Browning responded to science, and whether his poetry has gained from science and, if yes, how and to what extent. The vigorously thriving science in the nineteenth century, which started the scientific age, was fas­cinating, but at the same time it caused not a little anxiety by its materialistic propensity and influence. The conflict or ambivalence that resulted is observable in Browning as in many other intellectuals of the age. Browning had a scientific temperament as well as an affinity for religion. In sundry poems he refers to evolution, but he overlooks or rejects its materialistic implications. It becomes for him a symbol of progress guided by a benevolent God. However, irrespective of this standpoint, he has also used expressions related to or suggestive of evolution as illustrative images. In anthropology the concept of evolution was fervently relied on in the study of man's origin and development, both physical and cul­tural. Some ideas and speculations about man's physical and cultural evolution from an earlier and lower form must have gone into the making of Browning's "Caliban upon Setebos". Caliban's religious speculations and practices point to some universal human characteristics and the human condition. With the advance of science it was being more and more strongly felt that nature is run by uniform laws which preclude the supernat­ural. But the supernatural includes not only ghosts, spirits, paranormal and psychic phenomena, and the occult but also such prerequisites of religion as divine being(s), the immortal soul, and the afterlife. Therefore, faith was weakening. An import­ant reason why Victorian men and women took to spiritualism was that they wished to find through it a proof of the immortality of the soul and thereby a support for their faith. Although Browning ardently believed in the immortality of the soul, he looks at spiritualism with a speculations and scientific spirit of investigation and explodes a fake medium in "Mr. Sludge, 'the Medium'"· In the nineteenth century there also flourished ed experimental physiology and medicine based a great deal on vivisection. Browning's clear antivivisection message in two poems hardly needs any comment, but the philosophical implica­tions in them have proved significant enough for a detailed discussion. "Tray" hints at the limitation of reductionism in providing knowledge, particularly in biological and psychologi­cal sciences; "Arcades Ambo" brings into the mind the inade­quacy of modern medicine. Browning's interest in making a psychological study of his characters is very well-marked. Five poems portraying mental aberrations have been selected for study. -They show the depth of his psychological knowledge, especially his insight into the unconscious mental processes and their effect on behaviors, which becomes the more remark­able by antedating Freud. In addition, miscellaneous scien­tific references and allusions belonging to this or that field of science have also been collected and discussed. They occur in Browning's poetry most often in an incidental manner, serv­ing as images for various ideas, and many of them have nothing to do with his belief or philosophy. This study has brought several facts to light: Browning responded to science ambiva­lently, being keenly interested by many scientific facts and ideas, but regarding its materialistic tendency with mistrust; he had a scientific outlook, which was evident in his doubting and questioning spirit; his knowledge of one or two scientific facts was inaccurate, but on more occasions he evinced bril­liant insight into scientific truths; and, above all, his use of scientific ideas and images has enriched his poetry to a considerable extent. Since the creation of Bangladesh the Nationalized Commercial Bas have been -playing a commendable role in achieving the economic growth of Bangladesh. Recently there is a greater change in banking sector in Bangladesh. Consultative Committee of Public Enterprise, Ministry of Finance, Bangladesh Bank and other researchers have emphasized the operational efficiency of the same. A host of research has been done on the various aspects of NCBs but as no such specific attempt is found,