Compare the presentation of the Duke and Porphyria’s lover in “My Last Duchess” and “Porphyria’s lover”
Browning has presented The Duke and Porphyria’s lover as obsessive and controlling in the two poems. Telling the stories from the characters point of view makes it clear that they both feel threatened by their partners, and wish to regain the lead role they should have as the men in their relationships. Rather than confronting their significant others, they kill them because of their obsessive nature and lack of communication. The Duke on one hand feels that he can only possess the Duchess in a painting because he can control who looks upon her, where as Porphyria’s lover wants to capture Porphyria when he finally feels in control.
The characters of both the Duke and Porphyria’s lover are noticeable through the relationships they have with their partners. It is clear that they both have very similar intents, although for different reasons. They are portrayed as jealous and untrusting of their partners because of obvious insecurities they have in their relationships. The Duke suspected that The Duchess was having an affair with “Fra Pandalf”:
“ ’t’was not/Her husband’s presence only, called
that spot of joy into the Duchess’ cheek’ ”
This implies that the Duchess blushed for others and therefore was adulterous. He also suggests his wife gave sexual favours in return to politeness when he says; “She thanked men - good!”. Instead of being concerned about losing her he was only worried that she would make a fool of him and hurt his pride, as their relationship was not based on love or passion but was merely a way for the Duke to show off. The Duke only saw his wife as and object and not as a person and objectifies her by describing “Her breast” and “her throat” demonstrating his superficial and possessive nature. Porphyria’s lover was afraid that Porphyria would not wholly commit to him, never involving him with her life and would only use him as an escape from “vainer ties”. He thought that because she was of higher class than him, she would never pursue their relationship seriously. Ironically he was so insecure about his status in life, he never realised his status in the relationship; that she loved him as much as he loved her. This is obvious since she came to see him “through wind and rain”. The Duke on the other hand believed that the Duchess should respect him more than others because of “his nine-hundred-year-old-name” and describes how any man could not have “passed without/much the same smile” he himself received from the Duchess. This pretentious assumption that because of his class he should be admired far more than anyone, displays his arrogance and self-importance. The relationships in the two poems are very different: The Duke and the Duchess were only married because of his status and shallowness but Porphyria and her lover appear to be deeply in love with each other.
