'Porphyria 's Lover' by Robert Browning
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The rain set early in to-night,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm-tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake:
I listened with heart fit to break.
When glided in Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneeled and made the cheerless grate
Blaze up, and all the cottage warm;
Which done, she rose, and from her form
Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
And laid her soiled gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall,
And, last, she sat down by my side
And called me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare,
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,
And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me---she
Too weak, for all her heart's endeavour,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me for ever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could to-night's gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain:
So, she was come through wind and rain.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshipped me; surprise
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily oped her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
And I untightened next the tress
About her neck; her cheek once more
Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss:
I propped her head up as before,
Only, this time my shoulder bore
Her head, which droops upon it still:
The smiling rosy little head,
So glad it has its utmost will,
That all it scorned at once is fled,
And I, its love, am gained instead!
Porphyria's love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish would be heard.
And thus we sit together now,
And all night long we have not stirred,
And yet God has not said a word!
Editor 1 Interpretation
Porphyria's Lover by Robert Browning: A Dark Romantic Masterpiece
Porphyria's Lover is a hauntingly beautiful poem by Robert Browning that explores themes of love, passion, and madness in a way that still captivates readers today. Published in 1836, the poem is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, in which the speaker, who is also the protagonist, tells the story of his lover's visit to his cottage on a stormy night. As the night progresses, the speaker's obsession with Porphyria grows stronger, until he finally strangles her with her own hair. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the various elements that make Porphyria's Lover a classic of both the Romantic and Gothic literary traditions.
The Setting: A Stormy Night in a Cottage
The poem opens with a vivid description of the setting: "The rain set early in tonight, / The sullen wind was soon awake, / It tore the elm-tops down for spite, / And did its worst to vex the lake" (lines 1-4). Browning's use of pathetic fallacy, in which the weather reflects the speaker's mood and foreshadows the events to come, creates a sense of foreboding and tension right from the start. The fact that the speaker is alone in his cottage on such a night also adds to the feeling of isolation and unease.
The Speaker: A Madman in Love
The speaker of the poem is a man who is clearly obsessed with Porphyria, his lover. He describes her in glowing terms, as a "perfectly beautiful" creature who "worshiped" him (lines 21, 29). However, as the night progresses, his thoughts and actions become increasingly erratic and disturbing. He imagines that Porphyria is trying to resist him, and then decides to strangle her with her own hair in order to "preserve the moment" (line 38). The speaker's madness, which is perhaps driven by a combination of jealousy, possessiveness, and a desire for control, is a central theme of the poem.
Porphyria: A Symbol of Victorian Womanhood
In contrast to the speaker's madness, Porphyria represents a kind of Victorian ideal of womanhood. She is described as "murmuring how she loved me" and "blushing" as she leans against the speaker (lines 27, 31). She is seen as pure and innocent, while the speaker is dark and dangerous. However, this idealized view of Porphyria is also problematic, as it reduces her to a mere object of desire, rather than a fully-realized human being with her own thoughts and feelings.
The Structure of the Poem: A Dramatic Monologue
Porphyria's Lover is written in the form of a dramatic monologue, which means that the speaker is addressing a silent listener (in this case, the reader). The use of this form allows Browning to explore the speaker's thoughts and feelings in a way that is both intimate and unsettling. By giving voice to a madman, Browning challenges the reader to confront their own assumptions about love, gender, and power.
The Use of Language: Ambiguity and Irony
One of the most striking features of Porphyria's Lover is the use of language to create ambiguity and irony. For example, the speaker describes the moment of Porphyria's death as a "God has not said a word!" (line 43). This statement is both ironic, as God is traditionally seen as the ultimate judge of right and wrong, and ambiguous, as it could be interpreted as either a statement of triumph or despair.
The Theme of Death: A Gothic Element
Death is a recurring theme in Porphyria's Lover, and it is used to great effect to create a sense of Gothic horror. The speaker's obsession with death, which is hinted at in the opening lines of the poem ("And yet God has not said a word!") becomes more pronounced as the poem progresses. The murder of Porphyria, which is described in graphic detail, is a shocking and disturbing moment that lingers long after the poem is finished.
Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Romantic/Gothic Literature
In conclusion, Porphyria's Lover is a masterpiece of Romantic and Gothic literature that continues to captivate readers today. Through its vivid imagery, powerful language, and haunting themes, the poem explores the darker aspects of love and passion, as well as the madness that can come with obsession. By giving voice to a madman, Browning challenges the reader to confront their own assumptions about gender, power, and morality. As such, Porphyria's Lover remains a classic of English literature, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Porphyria's Lover: A Tale of Love, Madness, and Murder
Robert Browning's "Porphyria's Lover" is a haunting and disturbing poem that explores the dark side of love and the human psyche. Written in 1836, the poem tells the story of a man who strangles his lover, Porphyria, with her own hair, in order to preserve the moment of perfect happiness they shared together. The poem is a masterpiece of psychological insight and poetic craftsmanship, and it continues to fascinate and disturb readers to this day.
The poem begins with a vivid description of a stormy night, with the wind howling and the rain beating against the windows. The speaker is sitting alone in his cottage, waiting for his lover, Porphyria, to arrive. When she finally appears, she is wet and cold, but full of love and passion for him. She lights a fire and sits beside him, and he is filled with a sense of perfect happiness and contentment.
But then, something changes. The speaker becomes obsessed with the idea of preserving this moment of happiness forever, and he decides to kill Porphyria in order to do so. He strangles her with her own hair, and then sits beside her, holding her in his arms, as if she were still alive. He describes her as "perfectly pure and good," and he feels no remorse for what he has done.
The poem is a powerful exploration of the dark side of love, and the ways in which it can lead to madness and violence. The speaker is clearly deeply in love with Porphyria, but his love is twisted and distorted by his own insecurities and fears. He is afraid of losing her, and he is afraid of the power that she holds over him. In order to preserve his sense of control and dominance, he decides to kill her, and to keep her with him forever.
The poem is also a powerful critique of the Victorian ideal of femininity, and the ways in which women were expected to be passive and submissive in their relationships with men. Porphyria is portrayed as a strong and independent woman, who is not afraid to express her love and desire for the speaker. But this very strength and independence is what ultimately leads to her downfall, as the speaker cannot handle the idea of a woman who is not completely under his control.
The poem is also notable for its use of dramatic monologue, a technique that Browning was famous for. The speaker is not identified by name, and we only hear his voice and his perspective on the events that unfold. This creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, as if we are eavesdropping on a private conversation. But it also creates a sense of unease and discomfort, as we are forced to confront the speaker's twisted and distorted worldview.
The poem is also notable for its use of imagery and symbolism. The stormy night is a powerful symbol of the speaker's inner turmoil and conflict, as he struggles to come to terms with his own desires and fears. The fire that Porphyria lights is a symbol of her passion and desire, but it is also a symbol of the destructive power of love. And the hair that the speaker uses to strangle Porphyria is a powerful symbol of his own obsession and possessiveness.
In conclusion, "Porphyria's Lover" is a powerful and disturbing poem that explores the dark side of love and the human psyche. It is a masterpiece of psychological insight and poetic craftsmanship, and it continues to fascinate and disturb readers to this day. The poem is a powerful critique of the Victorian ideal of femininity, and the ways in which women were expected to be passive and submissive in their relationships with men. And it is a powerful reminder of the destructive power of love, and the ways in which it can lead to madness and violence.
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