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Page 154

“House” was published. A year later F.J.Furnivall, the founder of the Shakspere Society, joined Emily Hickey to found the Browning Society. The Society’s Prospectus carefully explains its purpose:

This society is founded to gather some, at least, of the many admirers of ROBERT BROWNING, for the study and discussion of his works, and the publication of Papers on them, and extracts from works illustrating them.

(Browning Society Papers 1966:1:19)

Immediately following these statements, one sees the initial shaping of Browning’s new status as the Victorian bard. After the writers of the Prospectus cite a paragraph-long analysis by Professor Spalding on Shakespeare, they outline similarities between the two poets, claiming that Browning possesses the same “leading note” as Shakespeare, which Spalding defines as “a spirit of active and inquiring thought” that can be seen “on every object which comes under his notice,” as well as an “imagination [that] is active, powerfully and unceasingly’’ (19). In addition, both Shakespeare and Browning possess an “‘active and piercing understanding’” (19). The Prospectus concludes that Browning is “profound enough in thought, noble enough in character and feeling, eloquent and interesting enough in expression, to deserve more thorough study, and a far wider circle of readers, than he has yet had” (20). The justification for Browning’s ascendancy to Shakespearean status has been made.

Throughout the Society’s existence, Shakespeare and his works are almost always the central touchstones for measuring Browning’s achievement. There are comments comparing both on the topics of reason, thought, and characterization. Yet the Society goes one step further in the process of appropriation by elevating Browning above Shakespeare, because, for them, Browning is not only more religious in belief than Shakespeare, but also more masculine in his writing. The “Introductory Address” for the first meeting of the Browning Society, given by the Rev. J.Kirkman at University College, London, formalizes the effort to Shakespeareanize Browning. Kirkman proclaims that “Browning is undoubtedly the profoundest intellect, with widest range of sympathies, and with universal knowledge of men and things, that has arisen as a poet since Shakespeare” (Browning Society Papers 1966: 1:172). He adds that Browning’s “truly Shakespearian genius preeminently shines in his power to throw his whole intellect and

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