Prospice - Robert Browning
A Courageous Embrace of Death and Reunion Beyond
Prospice
by Robert Browning
Fear death?—to feel the fog in my throat,
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denote
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post of the foe;
Where he stands, the Arch Fear in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall,
Though a battle's to fight ere the guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
I was ever a fighter, so—one fight more,
The best and the last!
I would hate that death bandaged my eyes, and forbore,
And bade me creep past.
No! let me taste the whole of it, fare like my peers
The heroes of old,
Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad life's arrears
Of pain, darkness and cold.
For sudden the worst turns the best to the brave,
The black minute's at end,
And the elements' rage, the fiend-voices that rave,
Shall dwindle, shall blend,
Shall change, shall become first a peace out of pain,
Then a light, then thy breast,
O thou soul of my soul! I shall clasp thee again,
And with God be the rest!
In Robert Browning’s “Prospice,” the speaker defiantly confronts the reality of death, viewing it not as an end to be feared but as a final test of courage and fortitude. The poem opens with imagery of fog, storm, and darkness, evoking a sense of foreboding as one draws closer to life’s last threshold. Yet rather than shrinking from this final challenge, the speaker insists on engaging in one more fight—“the best and the last”—signaling a refusal to submit meekly to mortality.
Browning’s choice of language underscores the speaker’s warrior-like spirit: ‘I was ever a fighter, so—one fight more.’ This line crystallizes the poem’s overarching theme: if life has always been a struggle, then approaching death should follow the same fearless ethic. Death is personified as the “Arch Fear,” a foe in a final battle where one must stand firm rather than slink past in cowardice.
A striking aspect of “Prospice” is its optimistic shift halfway through. The speaker acknowledges the grim and painful qualities of death—‘fog,’ ‘blast,’ and ‘darkness’—but contends that these forces ultimately yield to a transcendent peace. Browning hints at spiritual solace in the lines describing a “black minute” that soon transforms into light. The final stanza broadens this hope, transforming the fear of death into the joyous expectation of reunion with a beloved ‘soul of my soul.’ Browning evokes the promise of a life beyond mortality, in which companionship is restored and the suffering associated with dying is left behind.
Though the poem’s subject is serious and its initial mood ominous, “Prospice” ends on a note of deep reassurance. Browning affirms that to confront one’s mortality with courage can lead to an exalted form of personal triumph. The poem’s title—Latin for “look forward”—reinforces this message. Rather than dwelling on the despair of imminent death, the speaker ‘looks forward’ to transcending it, confident that death will yield to a union with both the beloved and with God. As a result, “Prospice” stands as a testament to Browning’s belief in an afterlife and the power of a resolute spirit to conquer even humanity’s greatest fear.
Key points
• Browning portrays death as a final challenge that can be met with bravery.
• The poem juxtaposes ominous imagery with a promise of ultimate peace and reunion.
• “Prospice” champions an unyielding spirit, urging readers to face mortality head-on.
• Browning’s optimism reflects faith in an afterlife, transforming fear into hope and solace.
