Robert Browning, an English poet and playwright, well-known for his dramatic monologues is one of the foremost Victorian poets, whose poems are known for their irony, characterization, dark humour, social commentary, historical settings and challenging vocabulary and syntax. In 846, he married the older poet Elizabeth Barrett, and went to live in Italy. By the time of her death, in 86,he had published the crucial collection Men and Women, one of which is The Last Ride Together, published in 855, is one of the finest dramatic monologue by Browning. The title represents the last time the former couple take a ride together. Although the narrator does grieve the end of his romance, his wishes to reflect his appreciation for the time they had together and the love he experienced. The poem has an overall bittersweet tone, balancing sadness and optimism.The theme of the poem is love and the speaker might be described as a triumphant obsessive and could ostensibly suggest the importance of striving through, riding which was often important stimulus for Browning. Though many readers take it as a love poem, actually it shows the philosophical revelation of the poet on love and life, success and failure. The poem is full of prodigal use of similes and metaphors with vibrant imagery, rhythm throughout is fractured but the rhyme scheme is consistent in each stanza. Its a first perso
n narrative encapsulating and focussing on the wishes of a man for a last ride together with his beloved but she does not reciprocate. Some critics see Freudian symbols within the poem, the title in particular interpreted as a metaphor for the sexual act. Suffice to say, as the poem progresses, it does become clear that this is no ordinary horse ride through gentle countryside. This is a journey that takes place in heart and mind. The lover is being rejected and completely dejected but he resigns to his fate and do not murmur and grumble against his beloved. He also compares himself with the poet, the sculptor and the musician who aim at an ideal attempt to reach sublimate, but remains unsuccessful. He feels gratitude towards his beloved for fulfilling his last wish, though being rejected by her. He consoles himself by saying that it is not only he who is suffering because of the indifference and ingratitude of his beloved but there are others also who have met with the same fate in their lives with their own sweethearts. He is contented to cherish her memory. He has attained heavenly glory and divine bliss through human agency. The poem revolves around Brownings principal philosophies-life is always greater than art and love is the best thing life can bring. Experience here on earth is the ultimate and one doesnt have to wait to have a blissful life in the here and now.