Analysis of Robert Browning's Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister

In his poem, "Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister," Robert Browning uses a nameless Spanish monk to weave a web of deceit and hypocrisy. Throughout the poem, this monk expresses opinions of both himself and a fellow monk, Brother Lawrence. Yet these opinions are not what the monk really thinks of either himself or Brother Lawrence, as can be deciphered by a closer examination of the text.

The monk, who is the speaker of the poem, attempts to convince the reader that he is a just, moral man. One of the ways he attempts to do this is by telling the reader about the special little things that he does to display his faith. Lines thirty-three through forty-one set forth just such an example:

"When he finishes reflection,
Knife and fork he never lays
Cross-wise, to my recollection
As I do, in Jesus praise.
I and Trinity illustrate,
Drinking watered orange-pulp-
In three sips the Arian frustrate;
While he drains his at one gulp!"

In the first sentence of this section, the speaker tells the reader how good he is by telling how he places his fork and knife crosswise when he finishes eating to show that he remembers the death of Christ on the cross. The second sentence makes reference to the Arian doctrine which denied the Trinity. The speaker displays his belief in the Trinity and his stand against this Arian doctrine by drinking this orange juice in three sips instead of one gulp. Although these acts may appear minor, the speaker uses them to show that hi is better, in this case, than Brother Lawrence.