Robert Browning used his poetry as a way of self-determination as many of the ideas expressed in his poems go against the grain of the Victorian era. His poetry should be included in the list of texts for the HSC because it not only offers examples of classical poetry but also provides insights into 19th century English society in terms of behaviour, gender roles and religion. Three poems that are great examples of this are "Porphyria's Lover," "My Last Duchess," and "The Laboratory." "Porphyria's Lover" presents a man so limited by the traditions and customs of his society that he is driven to kill and considers it a righteous action. “My Last Duchess” introduces a Duke who becomes consumed by his need to feel superior and be in complete control, which even leads him to murder. “The Laboratory” is about a woman driven by jealousy, who defies all morals to achieve her desires. Porphyria's Lover, My Last Duchess, and The Laboratory are all excellent examples of Browning's use of dramatic monologue. This is a style of poetry in which the narrator unintentionally reveals a dark secret or action of theirs while attempting to rationalize their actions to the audience and/or their listener in the poem. The dramatic monologue allows the reader to enter the character's psyche and develop a deep understanding of their mindset. The poems are more about the speaker's state of mind rather than the act he or she intends to commit. Nineteenth-century England was a time of gender inequality. Women were seen as inferior to males and, as evidenced in "Porphyria's Lover" and "My Last Duchess", objects of desire. Browning seems to comment negatively on this view of women, as the crimes against them and those who committed them in these 2 poems......middle of paper......urch using the negative words "shabby, empty church ." This line shows the reader that he has no faith in the authority of the Victorian church and finds no comfort in it. He finds his justice in self-determination, using his own methods. The speaker dismisses the church. Furthermore, to take the matter of killing and death into one's own hands and give oneself this right is to assume a God-like role. "Let death be felt and proof remain..." seeks the power that only God possesses. As in "Porphyria's Lover", in "The Laboratory" Browning seems to express his disbelief towards the church. Workshop" making them extremely valuable and insightful poems. All three texts have much to offer and therefore must be included in HSC study.