How did People Receive the Patriot a Year Ago?
The Patriot is a notable literary work by Robert Browning. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, to various questions of The Patriot.
Answer
How did people receive the Patriot a year ago?
Or, How was the Patriot treated at the beginning?
In “The Patriot” (1855), Robert Browning (1812-1889) reflects on the fickleness of public opinion. The speaker of the poem was honored as a patriotic hero only a year ago; now, he is on his way to his execution for unspecified crimes. Below, this is how the patriot was received by the people.
Grand Welcome: A year ago, people celebrated the patriot with huge admiration and joy. He was given a grand welcome during his arrival. The crowd showered his path with “roses, roses, all the way.” As he says,
It was roses, roses, all the way,
With myrtle mixed in my path like mad:
There were people everywhere, on the walls and the rooftops, just to get a glimpse of the patriot. The Church-spires were decorated with colorful flags. The celebration was so grand that it felt like the very city was alive with excitement.
Anything for the Patriot: The cheering crowd wanted to show their love for the patriot in every possible way. They would do anything for him. He remembers that if he had asked for the sun, the people would bring the sun for him from the sky and asked, “And afterward, what else?” They were willing to do anything for him, even if it meant attempting the impossible.
In conclusion, Browning illustrates how wholeheartedly the people celebrated the Patriot. Yet, this adoration was only temporary. It reflects that people are often both changeable and cruel.