Thomas Hutton Mrs.

Kimble TWIST Analysis 4/1/2012 Robert Brownings fascination with emotion driven insanity is fascinating in and of itself. He writes his characters actions in a very specific way; as to say, his works have very specific tones. In his poem Porphyrias Lover the tone that both characters typically exhibit is of loathsome demeanor. The narrator believes that Porhyrias love as is does not come in full force. It is suppressed by her need to stay discrete. With the narrator being a common man, and Porphyria likely being somewhat of a wealthy socialite, one can deduce that the narrators comments on her are loathsome by nature. If they were anything else you would suspect he is either ambivalent to their unfulfilled love life, or otherwise content with the level by which they are infatuated: And, stooping, made my cheek lie there Murmuring how she loved me- she Too weak for all her hearts endeavour, To set its struggling passion free From pride and vainer ties dissever, And giver herself to me for ever. But passion sometimes would prevail, Nor could to-nights gay feast restrain (Browning). He mentions how she stoops, indicating that perhaps she is of higher social stature than him. She does not giver herself completely to him, for if they were to go publicly and full force with their love she would risk losing her social standing, and probably risk losing her ability to attend any gay feast in the future. Many of the words exhibited in this poem are quite passionate (being appled to Porphyria for the first half of the poem, then explaining the narrators actions and feelings after he strangles her). Porphyrias actions are explained with words like, loved and hearts endeavour (Browning). At one point she murmurs how she loves him (Browning). She contains struggling passion (Browning). This passion shifts over to the man after Porhyrias death. He starts to use her body and gives her a burning kiss (Browning). He also mentions that his shoulder bore (Browning) which is suggestive of the mans newfound love after the bitterness that was Porphyrias restricted love. He feels that the act of killing her freed her of duties to others, so he gaines more passion at the thought of them both being completely and equally devoted to each other. Much of the imagery in this piece is captured through projected thought and emotion. You get a broader physical sense of the environment and related mood when Porphyria is walking in and setting the fire, and when the narrators thoughts are mixed in as subtle protests to Porphyrias attempts at wooing him. She calls to him and no voice replied (Browning), so the narrator is obviously being stubborn. This allows you to picture him sitting stubbornly and grumpily in contempt of Porphyrias love. This part of the imagery is essential in understanding the tense atmosphere. Brownings first-person point of view narrates thoughts partial to explaining the narrators opinions on Porphyrias thoughts. He thinks to himself, Porphyria worshipped me which made his

Thomas Hutton Mrs. Kimble TWIST Analysis 4/1/2012 heart swell as he debated what to do (Browning). The only true feelings that are projected belong to the narrator. The reader doesnt receive any contentions of right and wrong from sources beyond the narrator. This type of bias throughout the piece puts you deeper inside the deranged aspects of the narrators mind The most apparent and relevant theme in Porphyrias Lover is that sacrifices are necessary for a successful relationship, or for any pursuit in general. The man knows that Porhpyria is not giving 100% of her potential love: Too weak for all her hearts endeavour, from pride and vainer ties dissever, and give herself to me forever (Browning). If she would sacrifice her pride in order to show all her unrestricted and non-obfuscated lover for the narrator, he would not have been so scornful toward her feeble attempts at pleasing him, as it likely seemed to him that if she truly and unequivocally loved him, she would not try to hide their relationship for a shallow reason such as their differing social class and possible persecution by her peers.