'Porphyria's Lover' by Robert Browning
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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:
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 endeavor,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride, and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me forever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could tonight'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 worshiped 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!
Submitted by Tony DiLascio
Editor 1 Interpretation
Porphyria's Lover: A Dark and Twisted Tale of Love
Robert Browning's Porphyria's Lover is a classic poem that has been studied and analyzed by literary enthusiasts for decades. It is a dark and twisted tale of love that delves into the depths of human obsession and insanity. As a literary critic, I am excited to dive into the nuances of this intriguing poem and offer my interpretation and analysis.
Background and Context
Porphyria's Lover was first published in January 1836, in a magazine called Monthly Repository. It is a dramatic monologue, which means that the narrator speaks to an imaginary audience and reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, which is a rhythm that consists of four iambs per line. This gives the poem a sing-song quality that contrasts with its dark subject matter.
The poem tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman named Porphyria. The two of them are in a secluded cottage, and Porphyria is trying to light a fire and make the place comfortable. The man is overwhelmed with his love for her and decides to kill her, so that they can be together forever.
Analysis
The poem begins with an ominous tone, as the narrator describes the weather outside. He says that the wind is howling and the rain is beating against the cottage. This sets the stage for the dark events that are about to unfold. The narrator then describes Porphyria as she enters the cottage. She is wet and cold, and she tries to make the place warm and comfortable. The narrator is obsessed with Porphyria, and he watches her every move.
As Porphyria works to light the fire, the narrator becomes more and more agitated. He is overwhelmed with his love for her, but he knows that they can never be together, as she is of a higher social class than he is. He begins to think about ways to keep her with him forever, and he realizes that he can kill her. The narrator's inner monologue is disturbing, as he justifies his actions to himself.
When Porphyria finally sits down beside him, the narrator strangles her with her own hair. He describes the act in detail, which is gruesome and disturbing. However, the narrator is not disturbed by what he has done. He believes that he has done Porphyria a favor by killing her, as she can now be with him forever.
The narrator then arranges Porphyria's body so that it is sitting up beside him. He admires how beautiful she looks, and he believes that she is now his forever. The poem ends with the narrator sitting next to Porphyria's lifeless body, feeling content and at peace.
Themes
Porphyria's Lover is a poem that explores several themes, including love, obsession, and madness. At its core, the poem is about the destructive power of love. The narrator is so consumed by his love for Porphyria that he is willing to do anything to keep her with him, even if it means killing her.
Another theme that is explored in the poem is madness. The narrator's actions are not those of a sane person. He is obsessed with Porphyria, and he justifies his actions to himself. He believes that what he has done is right and that he has done Porphyria a favor by killing her.
Interpretation
Porphyria's Lover is a poem that can be interpreted in many different ways, depending on the reader's perspective. Some readers may see it as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and the destructive power of love. Others may see it as a commentary on the social norms of the time, and how they can drive people to madness.
One interpretation of the poem is that it is a critique of the patriarchy. Porphyria is a woman of higher social class than the narrator, and he is unable to be with her because of their class differences. This can be seen as a commentary on the rigid social norms of the time, which limited people's choices and caused them to act in ways that were not healthy or rational.
Another interpretation of the poem is that it is a commentary on mental illness. The narrator's actions are not those of a sane person, and he justifies his actions to himself. This can be seen as a commentary on how mental illness can distort a person's thinking and cause them to act in ways that are harmful to themselves and others.
Conclusion
Porphyria's Lover is a poem that is both disturbing and thought-provoking. It delves into the depths of human obsession and madness, and it offers a commentary on the destructive power of love. As a literary critic, I find the poem to be a fascinating study of human psychology and the ways in which social norms can drive people to madness. While it is not a pleasant read, Porphyria's Lover is a classic poem that offers a unique perspective on the human condition.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Porphyria's Lover: A Dark Tale of Love and Obsession
Robert Browning's poem Porphyria's Lover is a haunting and disturbing portrayal of a man's descent into madness and obsession. The poem tells the story of a man who strangles his lover, Porphyria, in a fit of passion and then sits with her corpse all night, convinced that he has done the right thing. The poem is a classic example of Browning's dramatic monologue style, in which the speaker reveals his innermost thoughts and feelings to the reader.
The poem begins with a vivid description of a stormy night, with the wind howling and the rain beating against the windows. Porphyria arrives at the speaker's cottage, drenched and cold, and proceeds to light a fire and make herself comfortable. The speaker watches her with a mixture of longing and fear, as he is acutely aware of the social and class differences between them. Porphyria is described as a beautiful and wealthy woman, while the speaker is a poor and lowly man.
As the night wears on, Porphyria tries to seduce the speaker, and he finally gives in to his desires. He describes the moment of passion in vivid detail, as Porphyria "made her smooth white shoulder bare" and "let the damp hair fall". The speaker is overwhelmed by his love for Porphyria, and he decides to keep her with him forever. He strangles her with her own hair, and then sits with her corpse all night, convinced that he has done the right thing.
The poem is a chilling portrayal of the speaker's descent into madness and obsession. He is consumed by his love for Porphyria, and he cannot bear the thought of losing her. He believes that by killing her, he has preserved their love forever. He describes her corpse as "perfectly pure and good", and he is convinced that she is still alive in some way. He even goes so far as to open her eyes and kiss her on the lips, as if trying to bring her back to life.
The poem is also a commentary on the social and class differences of the time. Porphyria is described as a wealthy and beautiful woman, while the speaker is a poor and lowly man. The speaker is acutely aware of these differences, and he is consumed by his desire for Porphyria. He believes that by killing her, he has overcome these differences and achieved a kind of equality with her.
The poem is also notable for its use of language and imagery. Browning uses vivid and evocative language to describe the stormy night and the moment of passion between Porphyria and the speaker. He also uses imagery to convey the speaker's obsession and madness, such as when he describes Porphyria's corpse as "smiling rosy little head" and "blushed bright beneath my burning kiss".
In conclusion, Porphyria's Lover is a haunting and disturbing poem that explores themes of love, obsession, and madness. The speaker's descent into madness and his obsession with Porphyria are portrayed in vivid and evocative language, and the poem is a classic example of Browning's dramatic monologue style. The poem is a commentary on the social and class differences of the time, and it is notable for its use of imagery and language. Despite its dark subject matter, Porphyria's Lover remains a classic and enduring work of literature.
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