This poem by Browning is written in one long stanza without it being separated to build the narrators anger toward Porphyria. The rhyme scheme used in this poem is of A,B,A,BB, which is continued throughout the whole of the poem. Browning has used descriptive language and detailed structure to create an imaginative poem for the reader.
The poem starts off by describing the dark, eerie atmosphere in the night. Its use of pathetic fallacy when saying “rain sets early” is starting to portray the lover’s madness in the poem. Also the use of personification when saying “The sullen wind” and “vex the lake” is describing the lover by reflecting his dark, hot tempered mood. By doing this Browning is preparing for the aggressive scene that will take place later in the poem. He also uses metaphors to say “I listened with the heart fir to break” involving the readers immediately what will happen throughout the poem.
However, as soon as Porphyria walks in the cottage the atmosphere changes, she brings with her metaphorical sense of cheers to her lover and the place with her warmth. The use of “warmth” and “rose” can also symbolize her love she has for him also when the lover says “laid her soiled gloves by” this shows us that the lover thinks that when she meets him she becomes pure and that how he wants her to be, Browning has used descriptive language to add a bit of interest to the poem. As Porphyria glides Browning uses adjectives fairly gentle and beautiful to show the readers the obsession of the lover with Porphyria, while he uses words such as “warm and rose”. There is also use of anastrophe when it says “When glided in Porphyria” Browning has used this to finish off his rhyme scheme as well as adding a poetic ring to the verse. Also Browning has added enjambment when narrator says “When glided in Porphyria; straight she shut the cold out and the storm” so that the readers can imagine this in a fast pace.
Browning has also used the word “fall” to symbolize Porphyria's irrevocable step she is taking by coming alone to see her lover, in Victorian time moralist use to refer women as “fallen women” if they had intimate relationship outside marriage also showing the reader her seductiveness towards her lover by saying Porphyria was seductive, she “put my arm around her waist, made her smooth white shoulder bare” creating imagery in readers mind that Porphyria was beautiful, by adding five sense to the poem. There is also the use of repetition when the lover says “yellow hair” throughout the poem. Her “yellow hair” can be referred to her seductive, manipulation and also her weapon of death. Porphyria start to murmur how she loved him in flirtatious manner however her lover doesn’t believe her as their love is insecure; there is also the use of onomatopoeia presented. Browning informs the reader that the narrative in this poem remains passive as Porphyria says “no voice replied” also the use of caesura, which represents his silence when he doesn’t reply to his lover.
Porphyria did not give her self to him fully as she was from different social class, she had pride, he believed she was too vain “she too weak for all her hearts endeavour, to set its struggling passion free from pride and vainer ties dissever and give herself to me forever” However she did come from her gay feast just to see him. “Nor could to-nights gay feast restrain” the language that Browning wrote this quote is in archaic language. Also Browning has used internal rhyme in the poem when saying “pride and vainer ties”; Browning has used this kind of language to slowly change the mood of the poem.
Moreover, when Porphyria’s lover finds out her love is vain, Browning changes the poem structure while making the narrator active whereas turning Porphyria passive, changing it into horror tales scene. As he says “she was come through wind and rain” he realizes that Porphyria did love him. Porphyria’s lover has schizophrenic characteristics as he has many mood swings in the poem from joy to captivating anger. His sudden change of mood changes from being annoyed “for love in her but all in vain” then swiftly to joy “happy and proud; at last I knew Porphyria worshipped me”. Browning also repeatedly used enjambment in this poem so that the reader get to read it in flow and in fast pace without stopping, the narrator says “Porphyria worshiped me; surprise made my heart swell, and still it grew”. This shows the reader that Porphyria’s lover thought himself as a God to Porphyria, whatever he did wouldn’t be classed as wrong and he wouldn’t get punished for it. Then he goes on saying that he is left confused “while I debated what to do” this builds suspense for the reader as they would start to think is he going to love Porphyria back or is he going to do something completely different. He knew exactly now that Porphyria was his property, the use of repetition emphasize his statement to show the readers he is in control of her.
Furthermore, he describes Porphyria as “perfect pure and good” telling the readers that she was innocent in an ironic way; she did not do anything to annoy his lover however what has gone through his head is an evil thought which he must carry out. Also the use of alliteration ‘perfectly pure’ tells the reader his passion for power. Browning has used a lot of vivid descriptions in this poem for example when he is trying to strangle her with her own “yellow strings” with no emotions or guilt. As soon as he strangles her, he re-assured himself by the use of repetition saying “no pain she felt, I am quite sure she felt no pain”. The lover uses simile to describe Porphyria’s dead eyes as “shut bud that hold a bee” to tell the reader that he could see in Porphyria’s eyes that she was hurt by someone describing it as a stung of a bee. Another thing that shows his psychotic characteristics is that when he says he opened her eyes again. He tries to re-assure himself that he did not do anything wrong with her and he did exactly what Porphyria wanted.
The narrator in Porphyria’s lover has Necrophilia characteristic as starts to have sexual desires once she is dead, he says “blushes bright beneath my burning kiss” as he uses alliteration to give his speech strong emotions also referring to how she had her blood running back to her cheeks once again. There is another use of internal rhyme in Browning’s poem as the narrator says “next the tress”. The lover makes her sit up even though she is dead, and he puts his head on her shoulder this time to show his power toward her. Porphyria’s lover also refers Porphyria by using irony and Synecdoche while saying “smiling little rosy head” to show the readers that she was happy where she was and how much he has power over her once she is dead. Browning also tells the readers Porphyria’s lovers obsession towards her and expressing his happiness when using exclamation marks whilst saying “its love, am gain instead!” Lastly the poem finishes of by saying “and yet God has not said a word!” the lover thinks whatever he did was right; God will not punish him for his evil deed. This last line represent on of the key themes found in the poem which is of evil. Browning has also used anaphora in this last line to emphasize on the repetition of the word “And”.
This poem by Robert Browning shows how the lover wanted to take over Porphyria’s life but couldn’t as she was from upper class and had “pride”. Browning in this poem has showed the readers how Victorian men wanted to have power over the females in society. Browning has excellent use of adjectives to make this poem effective as possible. The main themes that appear throughout the poem are of power, obsession and death.