CC BY 4.0 DEED
Did Robert Browning murder his beloved wife Elizabeth? Some few English scholars believe this to be the case. They argue that, over time, he increased her dosage of laudanum, and, eventually, this overpowered her already-compromised body. If true, as Carmen’s ironic aria Habanera proved her undoing, so too, did Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s great love.
“Love is a gypsy’s child,
it has never, ever, known a law;”
So sings Carmen, the eponymous and infamous femme fatale of George Bizet’s opera, about the uncontrollable quality of love. Bizet had his character sing this song with dramatic irony, as this action sets in motion the events of love, jealousy, and passion that will result in Carmen’s demise. If the above claim about Robert Browning is true, then the photographed painting of the idealized relationship of Barrett and Browning presented with Carmen’s aria may be interpreted as challenging the public’s unrelenting insistence that the Browning-Barrett relationship was ideal, even epic. Instead of the stereotyped femme fatale bringing about the death of her lover, casting herself in the role of the beloved, she brings about the death of herself, the femme.
Hi Timothy,
To be honest, I had to do a little research to be able to properly respond to your post. From what I understand, you are comparing Carmen’s demise with Elizabeth’s. It appears that Carmen was playing with fire, so to speak, and ended up getting burned. Elizabeth, however, was “supposedly” murdered by her husband who was jealous of her success. Even though you are implying that they were both killed by their partners, each partner had different motives.
From reviewing the painting, it does appear that Elizabeth has this sadness and dreariness to her while Robert just stares at her. Maybe some sort of slow classical music could have been associated with the piece ? Each time they look at each other, the music becomes a bit more upbeat, symbolizing their connection.
Technical notes:
The image appears to be an appropriate resolution, the sound plays, and all the links work. I believe you were supposed to hyperlink where the image/audio came from, not just the license.
It is, in part, the lyrics that I translated that are important to this cross-cultural connection (staid Anglo Saxons vs the Latin passions – love is unpredictable and untamable), so a classical piece as you describe would not work towards my end; same for the traditional painting paired with a habanera, which is a Latin rhythm that originated in Cuba, as it continues to parallel that contrast: Even those relationships that appear idealized on the outside, and when participants think they are not playing with fire, have no predictable course.
Hi, Timothy! The selection of the photo and music transported me into an artistic world, revealing the stories behind great works of art. When first viewing this painting, it appeared as a warm scene, but a closer examination of Elizabeth’s expression revealed her hesitation, casting doubt on their relationship. The music added a sense of sadness to the atmosphere, transforming the meaning of the image from warmth to eeriness, suggesting discord between the couple. Later, when I read your description, I learned the sad background of this photo and music. If you add links to the photo and its author, it would give me the chance to open it and learn more about it! Additionally, your thoughts inspired me, I thought pairing it with a spy thriller type of music could create a sense of both parties having ulterior motives.
EBB does have a plaintive expression, no? I wonder if the artist painted it with the intention of requiring his viewer to take a closer look, as he was in on the secret that belied the couple’s idealized love. Their relationship was, in fact, highly tempestuous, and this was well-known among their expatriate friends who also lived in Florence.
The controversial claim about Robert Browning and the interpretation of Bizet’s opera is both intriguing and thought-provoking. The way you connect the themes of love, tragedy, and artistic representation is quite unique. I listened to the audio twice! The choice of Bizet’s Habanera aria and the photographed painting adds a layer of complexity to the narrative. Individually, the Carmen aria conjures feelings of love, passion, and tragedy, while the painting seems to capture an idealized version of the Browning-Barrett relationship. However, when combined, the thought-provoking contrast emerges. The juxtaposition challenges traditional perceptions, creating a dialogue between love and tragedy. The reversal of roles, with the femme fatale bringing about her own demise, transforms the meaning of the image completely. It made me reconsider my preconceptions about the Browning-Barrett relationship, introducing an unexpected twist. I love it!! Considering alternative audio choices, I envision the impact of a haunting, melancholic melody. This could intensify the sense of tragedy in the image, reinforcing the narrative you’ve presented.
The placement/layout of your first caption and license are a bit awkward, and you’re missing the hyperlinks, but nonetheless, it’s a good post.
Controversial indeed. I am friends with the curator of the English Cemetery in Florence, and she is one of those who insists on this controversy, as she does with the claim that the reason Elizabeth’s father didn’t want his children to marry is because of mixed-race ancestry on his side in Elizabeth’s forebears. She doesn’t make the claim without some semblance of being an authority, as she edited the Penguin version of Barrett-Browning’s works (with her English scholar father; she is by education and profession a Dante scholar). There are, however, many scholars who point to the well-known documented ancestry of Elizabeth’s parents and rebut it, as other rebut the “poisoning” claim. For me, the verdict is still out.