I perceive Robert Browning’s ‘Porphyria’s lover’ as a controversial love poem that is set out in an unconventional and untraditional manner, as it subverts expectations of what love is. I argue from a feminist perspective that Browning objectifies the woman (Porphyria) in this poem. To support my argument I have selected two critical essays developed by Laura Mulvey and Slavoj Zizek. Mulvey’s critical essay explores the ‘male gaze,’ whilst Zizek explores her theoretical approach to the masochistic hold that the man has over the woman. Both of these critical essays are feminist readings that depict the woman as an ‘object.’
The title of this poem “Porphyria’s Lover” immediately satirises the convention that the woman is always the possessed …show more content…
This can be evidently seen through the structure of the poem. The structure of the poem presents a reflection of the man’s mental state. This poem has an ‘ABABB’ rhyme scheme, which some critics have described as sounding like a calm heartbeat; this contrasts with the unpleasantness of the crime. This is an elaborate rhyme, which is quite unnatural, the sudden ‘BB’ at the end is like a stagger, as if it mirrors the murder. The asymmetrical rhyme scheme reflects the unbalanced character of the narrator. Additionally, the rhyme scheme never changes; it remains unbroken even after Porphyria’s death which supports the idea that he is cold-hearted, bitter and cunning. Interestingly, Browning uses the word "and" frequently throughout the poem, which creates the feeling that certain events of the poem, are happening one after the other, almost as if they are foreseeable once Porphyria has arrived; just like her death. The out of control and frantic use of this could also reflect the mental state of the speaker; unable to control his emotions. The poem is displayed in a particular way, as there are no breaks, which reinforces the fact the poem’s relatively fast pace mirrors the speaker’s intention to kill Porphyria is intact from the beginning. It is also strange that the speaker is anonymous as we are not informed of his name, and that he is a man, yet …show more content…
In a particular passage of the poem the speaker describes Porphyria, her “yellow hair” and “how much she loved” him, yet there is a sudden stark contrast when he starts to question her “pride, and vainer ties” and the tone becomes dark through the “wind and rain.” The speaker appears to be in a very conflicted state, as he clearly desires and loves Porphyria, yet he is also angry at her. Perhaps this is because of the supposed unfaithfulness of Porphyria. The “vainer ties” possibly foreshadow the speaker’s strangulation of Porphyria. The speaker suggests that she would “give herself to me forever,” we never hear her say this; however this is a very possessive thought from the speaker. This also suggests that she is too weak for him. Browning describes love as transient, as he is interested in the male-dominated relationship; a pattern which is often expressed in his poetry. He continues to speak for Porphyria, as he states “Porphyria worshipped me,” however how can he know she truly loves him? He wants to possess and control her, this becomes even more obvious when he commands that in “That moment she was mine.” The confusion and dominating thoughts that the speaker feels can be explained through Mulvey’s theory that “the process of gazing on the female object of desire is both pleasurable and
The title of this poem “Porphyria’s Lover” immediately satirises the convention that the woman is always the possessed …show more content…
This can be evidently seen through the structure of the poem. The structure of the poem presents a reflection of the man’s mental state. This poem has an ‘ABABB’ rhyme scheme, which some critics have described as sounding like a calm heartbeat; this contrasts with the unpleasantness of the crime. This is an elaborate rhyme, which is quite unnatural, the sudden ‘BB’ at the end is like a stagger, as if it mirrors the murder. The asymmetrical rhyme scheme reflects the unbalanced character of the narrator. Additionally, the rhyme scheme never changes; it remains unbroken even after Porphyria’s death which supports the idea that he is cold-hearted, bitter and cunning. Interestingly, Browning uses the word "and" frequently throughout the poem, which creates the feeling that certain events of the poem, are happening one after the other, almost as if they are foreseeable once Porphyria has arrived; just like her death. The out of control and frantic use of this could also reflect the mental state of the speaker; unable to control his emotions. The poem is displayed in a particular way, as there are no breaks, which reinforces the fact the poem’s relatively fast pace mirrors the speaker’s intention to kill Porphyria is intact from the beginning. It is also strange that the speaker is anonymous as we are not informed of his name, and that he is a man, yet …show more content…
In a particular passage of the poem the speaker describes Porphyria, her “yellow hair” and “how much she loved” him, yet there is a sudden stark contrast when he starts to question her “pride, and vainer ties” and the tone becomes dark through the “wind and rain.” The speaker appears to be in a very conflicted state, as he clearly desires and loves Porphyria, yet he is also angry at her. Perhaps this is because of the supposed unfaithfulness of Porphyria. The “vainer ties” possibly foreshadow the speaker’s strangulation of Porphyria. The speaker suggests that she would “give herself to me forever,” we never hear her say this; however this is a very possessive thought from the speaker. This also suggests that she is too weak for him. Browning describes love as transient, as he is interested in the male-dominated relationship; a pattern which is often expressed in his poetry. He continues to speak for Porphyria, as he states “Porphyria worshipped me,” however how can he know she truly loves him? He wants to possess and control her, this becomes even more obvious when he commands that in “That moment she was mine.” The confusion and dominating thoughts that the speaker feels can be explained through Mulvey’s theory that “the process of gazing on the female object of desire is both pleasurable and