The Last Ride Together : Summary

Summary

“The Last Ride Together” is the best paradigm of Robert Browning’s dramatic monologues. In the poem, he describes the relationship between two lovers and their last horse ride.

At the beginning of the poem, the lover says that she no longer wants to have a relationship. But the lover loves her so much. The main purpose of a lover’s life is to get her lover. His life now seems aimless. He tries to accept his fate. He continues to bless his lover with optimism. Instead, the lover kept thanking her for staying in his life for so long. He then requests his lover. He wants his lover to take a horse ride with him one last time. This is his last wish. If she agrees then the biggest dream of his life will come true.

Saying this, he waits for his lover’s reply. His lover keeps her head down. He then proceeds to describe her condition. Her eyes were pitch black and had a kind of pride in them. This wait seems like a life-death juncture to him. If she agrees, he may live, and if she says no, he will die. Finally, his lover agrees. He is extremely happy.

At this moment he and his lover are very close. He is enjoying the time very much. It could have been different. His lover could not agree. But something good is happening to him. And for that he is thankful.

then, he becomes somewhat philosophical. He thinks people should not think of their past. They should move forward in life. Meanwhile, the two start their ride. He wonders what would happen if his lover hated him! Being able to ride together now is a great gift to him.

To lose his lover, he thinks that he is the only failure in the world! But no, many other people in the world have failed to achieve their goals. He consoles himself with this. This is how he justifies his love. He hasn’t completely failed as his girlfriend is now riding with him.

He says everything in human life does not go according to plan. People want one but have another. He wants to get his lover, but his wish is not fulfilled. But getting her by his side for a while is his greatest achievement. He thinks he has achieved more than a politician or a soldier.

He then compares himself to a poet. Here he says, what a lover achieves without writing poetry, what a poet can experience by writing poetry all his life! Poets do not find the happiness that a lover finds in love.

He compares him to musicians and sculptors (architects). A sculptor’s life ends with his art. Besides, a musician makes a living by composing music. They may be praised for a short time. But the speaker’s life is much better than theirs. Because he is going for a ride with his love of life.

At this stage, he expresses some metaphysical thoughts. He says that if someone gets everything in this life, he or she will not get anything in the next life. People do not know what will be good for them. So it is better to have some things unattainable for the next life. He doesn’t get his lover in this life. This failure may be the reason for his victory in the next life.

For so long he says so much but doesn’t say anything about his love. Yet his company brought him heavenly bliss. He no longer feels the need to go to heaven. He wishes, if this ride continues like this, how good it will be! They may grow old, but their love remains the same. And this is how this world will become heaven for the poet.