Analyse Porphyrias lover by Robert Browning Essays

Analyse Porphyrias lover by Robert Browning Essays Analyse Porphyrias lover by Robert Browning Paper Analyse Porphyrias lover by Robert Browning Paper Essay Topic: Poetry The Secret Life Of Bees Porphyrias lover is one of the most dramatic monologues written by a Victorian poet. Many tried to grasp new concepts of sensuality and brutality but it was Browning who captured these themes perfectly. As the Victorian society developed its understanding on sexuality and morality, people realized how many problems they have to face due to the idea of bad and wrong. Consciousness was a new idea so many poets didnt look at the normal side of the society but tried to develop their understanding and reflection of the insane minds. Porphyrias lover is a great example of such a reflection. Through the monologue we are pushed to face the conflict within the mind, the most twisted endeavors of our souls and the tip of a huge mountain of insanity. The narrator of this great piece is a complex multi layered character who shows us the problems and conflicts within his mind. Browning unfolds the secrets of the narrator very subtlety. The murder is described with a passive and apathetic voice which makes this poem seem so unreal and abstract. The author touches the most delicate and dark sides of our mind and shows us what would happen if the was no conscious present or if it was understood differently. The narrator describes his actions as I found a thing, thing to do,( )and strangled her. This is a very passive description of a action. It tells us that the narrator believed it was a natural action; killing the girl. Her love was so dear to him, that he decided to keep it in her for eternity. This action could theoretically be considered romantic. However, isnt killing someone a brutal action. Here we are facing a great conflict. Were his actions romantic or rather brutal, is taking someone elses life a loving or a evil action? The narrator doesnt even see other possibilities. He is so satisfied with the love and compassion she is showing him ( happy and proud; at last I knew Porphyria worshiped me) On the other hand Browning tells us there was some questioning to his actions. No pain felt she, Im quite sure she felt no pain the narrator is reassuring himself that his actions were right and loving. This tells us that there was some rational thinking in his head. However, rational doesnt mean the same thing to everyone. There is no clear description of what is rational or not. If there is enough evidence to back up your action then it may as well be considered rational. The point is that the narrator does back up his actions with reasoning, unfortunately his reasoning and his action do not weigh each other out meaning that in our modern reality his mind is unbalanced and incorrect. To show the deep complexity of ones mind, Browning uses a very particular rhyme pattern through out the piece ABABB. The intensity and asymmetry of the pattern suggests the madness concealed within the speaker’s reasoned self-presentation. The speaker uses a few great metaphors. As a shut bud that holds a bee, I warily opened her lids. This could indicate the reflection upon his actions. As we know bees sting, the narrator doesnt want to feel the painful truth. A beautiful flower has died with his love hidden inside. It is now not visible so he opens her eyes again, afraid of what he might see; pain, horror, hate. Hes scared that once the bud id open his love will sting him and fly away. In the last line of the poem the author talks about the result of his actions, and yet God has not said a word. This tells us that the narrator knows his actions could be considered as bad but yet no one has done anything. No one stopped him from doing what he had done therefore it was right. This also indicated that our speaker is religious and is scared aware of heaven and hell, this could suggest that to hold Porphyrias love and passion was so dear to him it was worth more than being a good man or going to heaven.