Introduction of the Poem: “Porphyria’s Lover” is Browning’s first monologue. It was written sometime in 1835. Then it was published in a magazine, The Monthly Repository, in 1836. Later it appeared in the poet’s poetic volume entitled Dramatic Romance, in 1845. It is a study in abnormal psychology. It describes a grim murder and is … Read more
The “Porphyria” persona’s romantic egotism leads him into all manner of monstrously selfish assumptions compatible with his own longings. He seems convinced that Porphyria wanted to be murdered, and claims “No pain felt she” while being strangled, adding, as if to convince himself “I am quite sure she felt no pain”. He may even believe … Read more
Porphyria’s Lover is a dramatic monologue, a poem in which a speaker talks to a silent listener about a dramatic event or experience. Browning is considered to be one of the earliest and greatest practitioners of this form, and Porphyria’s Lover is his first poem in this style. The dramatic monologue offers readers intimate insight … Read more
The poem was written just before the start of Queen Victoria’s rule, as societal standards were shifting towards repressiveness (and particularly towards repression with respect to female sexuality) but not in the heyday of Victorian principles, which didn’t occur until much later in the century. Porphyria is the disease which is believed to have caused … Read more