This essay examines the nature of dramatic monologues and how character is revealed through them. In order to do this I am going to look at three poems. The poems that are being studied are: Ulysses, Tithonus and Prophyria's Lover. A dramatic monologue is where a subject is examined through one persons perspective. All of these poems were written pre - 14. all of the main characters who feature in the monologues have very unhappy natures. Dramatic monologues give a very good idea of the person who is telling the story but it can also be biased.
First of all I will be explaining the themes of Ulysses. This poem is about a famous Greek warrior, Ulysses, who is very hedonistic and has a very strong obsession for adventures. He was staying on a land known as Ithaca. Ulysses does not seem to be very fond of the land he is living on as he describes it as having "barren crags". This also shows that he thinks the land is infertile and that nothing grows. He then compares the land with his "aged wife". This gives us the impression that he does not love her as much as he used too. He also doesn't seem to like the Ithacan people, and he thinks that they are a "savage race". All they do is behave like animals, "That hoard, and sleep, and feed, and know not me". This also shows that he thinks that the Ithacan people don't know him, don't respect him, and are of much lower class to him gives the impression that he is very arrogant, selfish rich man. All he wants to do is to become famous, and all he cares about is his reputation.
Ulysses has travelled to many other countries and has seen different religions which shows that he must be a great well known Greek warrior, "much have I seen and known - cities of men and manners, climates, councils, governments". The people in these lands honour him rather than the Ithacan people. After every battle he would meet up with his friends to toast delight of battles.
