Porphyria’s Lover Summary Line by Line
Porphyria’s Lover Summary Line by Line - Porphyria's Lover is a poem by Robert Browning that was first
published in 1836. It is a dramatic monologue that tells the story of a man who
strangles his lover, Porphyria, with her own hair. The poem explores themes of
love, obsession, and madness. In this article, we will provide a line-by-line
summary of the poem, analyzing its meaning and symbolism..
Summary
The poem begins with the speaker describing the weather
outside. It is a stormy night, and the wind is howling. The speaker is sitting
in a cabin, waiting for his lover, Porphyria, to arrive. She enters the cabin
and tries to warm up by starting a fire. The speaker describes her as being
very beautiful and elegant.
The speaker reveals that he loves Porphyria and is obsessed
with her. He wishes that she could stay with him forever. However, he knows
that this is not possible because of the societal norms of the time. He
believes that Porphyria belongs to a higher social class than he does. Porphyria’s Lover Summary Line by Line
Porphyria tells the speaker that she loves him and wants to
be with him forever. The speaker is overjoyed by this and thinks that his dream
has come true. He becomes overwhelmed with emotion and decides to preserve this
moment forever.
Porphyria’s Lover Summary Line by Line - The speaker then proceeds to strangle Porphyria with her own
hair. He does this because he wants to preserve the moment of perfect love that
they shared. He believes that by killing her, he has frozen time and can always
remember her as she was in that moment.
The speaker then sits with Porphyria's dead body, holding her
in his arms. He feels no guilt or remorse for what he has done. Instead, he
feels a sense of satisfaction and contentment. He believes that Porphyria is
now his forever.
The poem ends with the speaker describing the expression on
Porphyria's face. He says that it is a smile, and that she is now his perfect
possession.
Analysis
The poem explores themes of love, obsession, and madness. The
speaker is obsessed with Porphyria and wants to possess her completely. He is
willing to kill her in order to preserve the moment of perfect love that they
shared. This reveals the dark side of love, where obsession can lead to madness
and violence.
The stormy weather outside is a symbol of the inner turmoil that
the speaker is feeling. It reflects his emotional state and the intensity of
his feelings for Porphyria. The storm also creates a sense of isolation, as if
the speaker and Porphyria are the only two people in the world.
Porphyria's beauty is emphasized throughout the poem. She is
described as being very elegant and graceful. This makes her seem almost
otherworldly, as if she is too good for the speaker. The speaker is aware of
this and feels that Porphyria belongs to a higher social class than he does.
This creates a sense of inequality in their relationship, which adds to the
tension.
The act of strangling Porphyria with her own hair is a
gruesome and violent act. It is a symbol of the speaker's desire to possess her
completely. By killing her, he believes that he has frozen time and can always
remember her as she was in that moment. This reveals the speaker's delusion and
madness.
The smile on Porphyria's face at the end of the poem is a
symbol of the speaker's possession of her. He believes that he has finally
achieved his desire to possess her completely. However, this is a delusion, as
he has killed her and cannot possess her in any real sense.
Conclusion
The poem shows how obsession can lead to madness and
violence, and how societal norms can create a sense of inequality in
relationships. The use of symbolism, such as the stormy weather and Porphyria's
beauty, adds depth to the poem and helps to convey its themes.
Overall, Porphyria's Lover is a thought-provoking poem that
challenges the reader's perceptions of love and relationships. It raises
important questions about the nature of obsession and the consequences of
pursuing love at any cost.
FAQs
What is the meaning of the title, "Porphyria's Lover"?
The title refers to the speaker's lover, Porphyria, whom he
strangles with her own hair in the poem.
What is the poem's main theme?
The poem explores themes of love, obsession, and madness.
Why does the speaker kill Porphyria?
The speaker kills Porphyria because he wants to preserve the
moment of perfect love that they shared.
What is the significance of the stormy weather in the poem?
The stormy weather is a symbol of the inner turmoil that the
speaker is feeling. It reflects his emotional state and the intensity of his
feelings for Porphyria.
What is the poem's message about love?
The poem suggests that love can lead to obsession and madness,
and that pursuing love at any cost can have tragic consequences.
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