Robert Browning

Most of the poetry we have studied so far has been well-expressed and the subject matters while interesting have rarely had many surprises or suspense. Robert Browning stood out in this way. When I started reading “Porphyria’s Lover” it seemed like any other romantic love poem, little did I know just how abruptly that would change! When the main character strangles his lover, I found myself stopping stunned. Did it really just say that? It is for that reason that I loved reading his poetry. You never knew just what to expect, he strayed away from the ordinary and made sure to hold your attention. Browning was able to bring theatre into poetry which made his work unique and exhilarating. Like his wife, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, he was not afraid to try new things and comply with limitations set out by his predecessors.
A common theme Browning appeared to focus on was the topic of morality and female sexuality. I found two of his poems, “Porphyria’s Lover” and “My Last Duchess” to have many commonalities and both were highly entertaining to read. Both of these poems have to deal with male characters who murder their female lovers in order to protect the purity of female sexuality. In “Porphyria’s Lover” Browning depicts Prophyria as exuding sexuality and offering herself to her lover without any inhibitions of what friends or family may think. When her lover realizes the extent of Prophyrias devotion, he sees no choice but to murder. So he does, he strangles her with her own hair and even tempts to suggest that it is God’s will by the last line of the poem. “And yet God has not said a word!” The reason he gives for murdering her is so that they will be able to remain together, and so that he will always be able to keep that moment where she gave herself to him.

“That all it scorned at once is fled
And I, its love, am gained instead
Porphyria’s love: she guessed not how
Her darling one wish now be heard
And thus we sit together now
And all night long we have not stirred.”

The thought process of the murderer is sick and twisted. His strangling Porphyria comes as a complete shock to most readers and shows how he was able to bring his theatrical background into poetry. In the Victorian time premarital sex and promiscuity were highly looked down upon and so if her family had discovered the way Porphyria approached her lover chances of them being able to remain together would be slim.
In “My Last Duchess” Browning reflects on another man murdering his lover. This time a Duke is being suspected of having his wife murdered on the grounds of her over sexuality. Here the Duke is discussing a painting of his dead bride and at first it may appear he is mourning her death but as he continues, the reader begins to realize that he himself has “commanded” her to be killed. The reason behind this is because she was caught flirting with too many other men, and perhaps capable of having an affair on her husband.

“Sir, twas not her husband’s presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the duchess’ cheek:….
For calling up that spot of joy. She had,
A heart – how shall I say? Too soon made glad
Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.”

Even if she was not having a physical affair (which the text never really gives evidence for) she was still being more suggestive to other men then was allowed for women during the time. The Duke felt as though he was morally obligated to put an end to this, and his way of doing so was by poisoning her.
Though both poems have different reasons for why the wanted to commit these murders they were both centered on the sexuality of women and morality. I feel as though Browning was trying to suggest that expectations in the day were perhaps a bit extreme for female purity. His wife wrote several works on unjust role of women’s place in society and I think he expands on this by delving into the realms of women’s sexuality. Both Browning and his wife had an amazing talent for words and were captivating to read. The way he incorporated drama into his poetry was genius and I really enjoyed every last twisted word of it!