Louis Napoleon in Browning's Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau: A True Portrait of a Double Personality

The following study consists of an attempt to show that Robert Browning has drawn a reliable portrait of Louis Napoleon, the last Emperor of the French, in the poem Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society. The study is divided into four parts. Chapter I is concerned with the questions of whether Browning has allowed his artistic ability to prevent him from presenting the true portrait of Louis Napoleon and whether Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau deserves to be called a poem. Chapter II traces the development of Browning's interest in Louis Napoleon and states why the poet wrote the self-apology of the Emperor's life. Chapter III is devoted to the poet's technique in the composition of the poem and in drawing the portrait of the Emperor. Chapter IV is an analysis of Louis Napoleon's policy as it is presented in Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau.