How Does Browning Tell the Story in the Laboratory?

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How does Browning tell the story in the Laboratory? Robert Browning’s poem “The Laboratory” is set is France before the revolution which can be told from “ancient regime” and Browning manages to successfully tell the story using setting , time and sequence , characterisation and voices in the text correctly. The dramatic monologue is about the narrator herself and her plotting of revenge against her ex lover and his current lover and as tells the reader how she plans on doing so she shows how she believes her actions are justified and reasonable. In the poem the story’s tone is set with the setting which also helps create vivid imagery for the readers, making it easier to understand. Browning uses the title to set the scene for the story as “The Laboratory” is a place where scientific experiments take place but oddly in the poem it’s a place the narrator (a woman) uses the tell her feelings and plot revenge. The poem is set around the time before the French revolution which is indicated from the subtitle, “ancient regime” which was at a time of internal conflicts and civil wars’ showing it was at a violent time which could be linked to why the narrator took such drastic measures. The poem is set mainly around the place in which the apothecary man is working, where he is making the poison that will be used to kill the narrator’s enemy. The narrator is close by the apothecary man, whilst he is making the poison as she watches it, “curling whitely”, showing she wants to be involved in the preparations and see it come together This reveals a more sinister aspect behind her actions. The narrator seems to be the only voice in the text but the poem was supposed to be a conversation yet she dominates the conversation not allowing the other character present (apothecary man) to respond or get his opinion on her situation. By not allowing the man respond it showed

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