The poem “Porphyria’s Lover” by Robert Browning was written in 1836. Although the poem was written so long ago, it is known to be a very dramatic and ironic poem due to the speaker’s theme of obsession. In Uma Kukathas’s ‘Critical Essay on “Porphyria’s Lover”’ it is stated and agreed upon that “"Porphyria 's Lover," is a poem in which a madman recounts to himself the events of the night before that end with his murdering the woman he loves.” (Kutkathas, Critical Essay on.). Throughout the poem there are multiple aspects that have a major impact on the theme such as the poets’ use of syntax and diction in the dramatic monolog, the speaker’s borderline personality disorder, and the tone the speaker uses towards his obsession of Porphyria.
In …show more content…
A dramatic monologue is a “poem whose speaker addresses one or more silent listeners, often revealing much more than he or she intends.”(Kirszner, pg. 663). The poems dramatic monologue holds numerous devises used in literature such as, syntax and diction. In regards to syntax and diction, both are beneficial to the theme as the devices give the form and meaning that hints towards the theme of obsession. Browning’s arrangement of syntax in the dramatic monologue helps the poem develop an obsessive casual tone, such as in lines thirty-six through thirty-eight “That moment she was mine, mine, fair, / Perfectly pure and good: I found / A thing to do, all her hair”, (Kirszner, pg. 699). The speaker’s syntax lays emphasis on his claim of Porphyria in that moment by expressing how she is his. Furthermore, the speakers’ syntax expresses his casualty with murdering Porphyria by emphasizing how “fair, /Perfectly pure and good…” (Kirszner, pg. 699) she was and how he “…found/ A thing to do…” (Kirszner, pg. 699) to keep her because “That moment she was mine, mine…” (Kirszner, pg. 699). The syntax unmistakably displays the speakers’ obsessive and possessive nature …show more content…
A borderline personality disorder is characterized by, “instability in relationships, self-images, and mood, plus lack of impulse control.”(Rathus, pg. 425) while an antisocial personality disorder is characterized by confliction with society, yet unaffected by punishment, and “experiences little or no guilt or anxiety” (Rathus, pg. 426). A person with an antisocial personality disorder is commonly known as being either a sociopath or a psychopath. The speaker of “Porphyria’s Lover” is neither a sociopath nor a psychopath as he does not fit the characteristics. Moreover, the speaker does not have a form of antisocial personality disorder due to his ability to form meaningful attachments such as Porphyria. In reference to the psychological aspect of the poem, it is agreed upon in the ‘Overview: “Porphyria’s Lover’” that in the poem “…poem Browning offers a complex psychological study of an insane man who uses reason and argument to explain and make sense of his actions,” (Overview: “Porphyria’s Lover”, n.p.) which also fits the criteria of a borderline personality disorder. The speakers borderline personality disorder can be determined by lines twenty-two through twenty-five. “Too weak, for all her heart 's
In …show more content…
A dramatic monologue is a “poem whose speaker addresses one or more silent listeners, often revealing much more than he or she intends.”(Kirszner, pg. 663). The poems dramatic monologue holds numerous devises used in literature such as, syntax and diction. In regards to syntax and diction, both are beneficial to the theme as the devices give the form and meaning that hints towards the theme of obsession. Browning’s arrangement of syntax in the dramatic monologue helps the poem develop an obsessive casual tone, such as in lines thirty-six through thirty-eight “That moment she was mine, mine, fair, / Perfectly pure and good: I found / A thing to do, all her hair”, (Kirszner, pg. 699). The speaker’s syntax lays emphasis on his claim of Porphyria in that moment by expressing how she is his. Furthermore, the speakers’ syntax expresses his casualty with murdering Porphyria by emphasizing how “fair, /Perfectly pure and good…” (Kirszner, pg. 699) she was and how he “…found/ A thing to do…” (Kirszner, pg. 699) to keep her because “That moment she was mine, mine…” (Kirszner, pg. 699). The syntax unmistakably displays the speakers’ obsessive and possessive nature …show more content…
A borderline personality disorder is characterized by, “instability in relationships, self-images, and mood, plus lack of impulse control.”(Rathus, pg. 425) while an antisocial personality disorder is characterized by confliction with society, yet unaffected by punishment, and “experiences little or no guilt or anxiety” (Rathus, pg. 426). A person with an antisocial personality disorder is commonly known as being either a sociopath or a psychopath. The speaker of “Porphyria’s Lover” is neither a sociopath nor a psychopath as he does not fit the characteristics. Moreover, the speaker does not have a form of antisocial personality disorder due to his ability to form meaningful attachments such as Porphyria. In reference to the psychological aspect of the poem, it is agreed upon in the ‘Overview: “Porphyria’s Lover’” that in the poem “…poem Browning offers a complex psychological study of an insane man who uses reason and argument to explain and make sense of his actions,” (Overview: “Porphyria’s Lover”, n.p.) which also fits the criteria of a borderline personality disorder. The speakers borderline personality disorder can be determined by lines twenty-two through twenty-five. “Too weak, for all her heart 's