Men and Women

"Men and Women" by Robert Browning is a compilation of poems from the 1800s. The collection includes dramatic monologues and lyrical poems which investigate the roles of men and women, what it means to be human, and the creation of art. From artists to philosophers and lovers, the poems portray characters in complicated relationships and dealing with what society wants from them. The beginning of the collection introduces Browning's poetry choices, as he separates more straight forward lyrical works from his more challenging dramatic works. The poems hint at shifts in his poetic style and how his characters change. The characters show a wide range of human emotions and thoughts. Browning introduces these characters’ inner lives and their difficulties. The characters' stories reflect the experience of being human.