Detailed Analysis of Robert Browning's 'Porphyria's Lover': Themes, Style, and Interpretation -- englit.in

Robert Browning (1812-1889)was one of the most influential poets of all time. His dramatic monologue was so famous. He often used in his poetry, "Irony, Characterization, Dark Humour, and Social Commentary." However, our poem, "Porphyria's Lover" was first published in the issue of, "Monthly Repository." Browning has used his writing style, dramatic monologue. 

In his monologue, he often uses voiced by eccentrics, lunatics, or people under emotional stress. In both "Porphyria's Lover" and "My Last Duchess", he shows a woman who has killed her before. He is telling us about his beloved that how postion, situation, and other, she has taken. 

summary: 

    • THE rain set early in to-night, 

★ The poet here expresses about the rainy season's night. 

 • The sullen wind was soon awake,

★ He shows an intolerable storm like wind has come to them. 

• It tore the elm-tops down for spite,

★He expresses that the storm has broken "elm-tops."

• And did its worst to vex the lake

★He has done its most bad way to imposition the lake 

• I listened with heart fit to break.

★He has heared physical and internal fit of her heart to break 

• When glided in Porphyria; straight

     She shut the cold out and the storm,

★He expresses that when Porphyria has entered to the room then it shut the coldness and stormy.  

• 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

★ When she comes he has kneeled down. There is a brightening of all the cottage, which is 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,

★ It is showing from her cloak and shawl, that she roses. Her almost all body fall on the ground. 

• 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,

★ Porphyria has come and sat nearby Poet's side. She has asked to the speaker something about, but the poet did not reply on it. As a fairy woman, her shoulder becomes less. Porphyria's yellow hair is displaced. 

•      And, stooping, made my cheek lie there,

       And spread, o'er all, her yellow hair. 

★ She has removed the poet's cheek and make her hair spread to all the areas, because she is near to the poet. 

• 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.

★ Like water the poet's heart is blinking or murmuring, and thinking how she loved him. Her love is less, and the poet do not even want to survive or struggle with it. Then Browning has given his heart to her fully. 

Second Part will be published soon...