Dramatic Monologues

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Dramatic Monologues
Introduction
A dramatic monologue is a poetry written in the form of a speech of an individual character. A dramatic monologue has the following features: First it comprises of a single person who is not necessarily the poet. The person gives the speech that summarises the whole poem in a particular situation at a critical moment. Second the person addresses and gets to interact with one or more other people. However, we are familiar with the present auditors and their input in the poem through the clues in the revelation of the single speaker (Samyuktha, 1). Third the key principle in charge of the poet's choice and formulation of what the lyric speaker says is to reveal the reader. Revelation is done to enhance the poet’s interest, the speaker’s character and temperament.
Tennyson’s "Ulysses Dramatic monologue
Tennyson just like Robert Browning is an expert in composing dramatic monologues. His well-known piece of work on poetry Ulysses is a perfect example of dramatic monologue in which he chooses a classical hero Ulysses as the main character for his work. Here he focuses on the adventurous and knowledge seeking attitude of Ulysses (Samyuktha, 2). But the philosophy of life given through the mouth of Ulysses is Tennyson's Philosophy. Of all the monologues I have come across Tennyson's "Ulysses is the most psychologically credible and most troubling monologue compared to others such as Browning's "My last Duchess" and Eliot's "Prufrock", or authentic. Ulysses poem was written by Tennyson in 1833 and later published in 1842 and is well known for illustrating the dramatic monologue form.
Struggling with old age, Ulysses the mythical hero explains how he is discontented and restless on embarking to his kingdom, Ithaca after travelling for long. Even after reuniting with his son Telemachus and his dear wife Penelope, Ulysses has the desire to continue with exploration life (Samyuktha, 3). That clearly describes how he is psychologically troubled; many would expect him to be relaxed and enjoy staying with his family but he acts the opposite.
The speaker’s language is forceful to express Ulysses conflicting moods in search for continuity between the past and the future. There exists a contrast between Ulysses sentiments from Ulysses’ words and the sounds expressing them. For example, the poem’s insistent iambic pentameter faces constant interruption from (metrical feet consisting of two long syllables), which reduces the pace of the poem movement (Samyuktha, 4). Furthermore, the reliability of Ulysses' sentiments is cast into doubt by the labouring language used.
Throughout the poem, Ulysses is expected to speak and express his thoughts and feelings to the silent listeners. He stands before the royal palace of Ithaca and speaks before the Mariners, who had been travelling with him during his long journey to Troy (Samyuktha, 4). His cynical remarks towards life mark the beginning of monologue in the poem.
It is of less benefit that an idle king
By this still hearth, among these barren crags,
That hoards and sleeps and feed and does not know me.
Ulysses, the courageous man, is uncontended...