Essay Database

Porphyria's Lover This poem demonstrates several of Robert Browning's defining characteristics as a poet. It contains his criticism towards the beliefs and practices of self-restraint and his traditional use of dramatic monologue to expose a single character's personality, which in turn often provides an additional depth to his works in coordination with his use of unpoetic language. Also taking into account the author's own personal experiences with his wife, the poem can also be perceived …

…presented previously about the presence of subduing self-restraint and going against the socially accepted moral ethics of the society in which Browning was part of, the history between the author and his wife create an uncanny semblance, a parallel one might add, to the poem's underlying context. The fact that he eloped with his wife, an act that was considered unacceptable during their time, displays one form for his life to be transformed into poetry.