Porphyria and Jenny's Narrator
PORPHYRIA and JENNY’S NARRATOR
Emily Montgomery
When one reads a poem it is possible to discover more from what is not said than what is said. So is the case in this discussion. Porphyria and the speaker in the poem “Jenny” proved, for me, to be quite similar in character and underlying purpose; though their portrayal is from such different standpoints as to make it difficult to deduce this similarity at first glance. In this discussion I will be supposing that Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator are, in effect, manipulating the lives of their significant others. The former, as indirectly indicated through her lover’s narrative. And the latter through his own thought process, revealing his true intentions.
Porphyria and the narrator of “Jenny” possess similar points of view. In being comparable to one another they differ from the standpoints of their opposing characters. It appears that Porphyria is from a slightly higher caste than that of her lover. This is evident through the mention of the gloves that she discards in line 12, and the “vainer ties” (line 24) she refuses to release. While the man who relates the poem may appeal to her fleshly desires, her other attachés appeal to the materialistic or social position she holds. In the same way, Jenny’s narrator states that, “this room of yours, my Jenny, looks a change from mine so full of books” (line 22-23). He may not be of a higher class than she, but he is from a different walk of life.
Already, this sets the stage for the next consideration of similarities, which is to be found in their approach to the lives of the victimized characters. Porphyria and Jenny’s lover seem to take for granted the position of their opposing characters. They operate on a come and go basis because they are making use of the desperation to be found in both people. The man who kills Porphyria has been led to virtual despondency by his real love for her, while she retains a compromised and excuse-filled relationship with him. The man who has visited Jenny and now reflects on who she really is, has taken advantage of her need for survival in the world that has been partially imposed, and partially created by her own hand. She is “Thankful for a little rest…from the heart-sickness and the din” (lines 71, 73), and he has provided that little rest for her. But, while he maintains a sympathetic tone to her plight in his inward musings, at last he leaves, having added one more thought to the thousands about her, but nothing to cause her to think differently.
As a final issue, I would like to demonstrate that Jenny’s narrator and Porphyria herself choose not to see certain things to maintain their detachment from the difficulty they leave their lovers in. Jenny’s narrator says to himself, “do not let me thing of you, lest shame of yours suffice for two” (lines 91-92). It can be noted that he often delves farther into her situation to reveal the sadness, but after a prolonged exposure to it he disengages himself again, “come, come, what use in thoughts like this” (line 298). Similarly, Porphyria, upon entering her lover’s home appears to be unaware of the signs of his inward turmoil displayed in the physical surroundings. The house was cold and dark when she entered, with no fire burning for example (lines 7-9). Again, when addressing her lover, “no voice replied” (line15) and she ends by forcing a response from him. In an effort to keep their present situation intact, Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator effectively distance themselves from their partners so that they may continue to come and go as they wish.
In examining the text further through this interpretation I have discovered further questions and flaws in the possibilities of my interpretation. Perhaps it is to far-fetched to see Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator as manipulative as I have portrayed them. But to see Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator as two utterly similar characters in their positions and in their dealings with their opposing persons is a point of view that can be explored.
Emily Montgomery
When one reads a poem it is possible to discover more from what is not said than what is said. So is the case in this discussion. Porphyria and the speaker in the poem “Jenny” proved, for me, to be quite similar in character and underlying purpose; though their portrayal is from such different standpoints as to make it difficult to deduce this similarity at first glance. In this discussion I will be supposing that Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator are, in effect, manipulating the lives of their significant others. The former, as indirectly indicated through her lover’s narrative. And the latter through his own thought process, revealing his true intentions.
Porphyria and the narrator of “Jenny” possess similar points of view. In being comparable to one another they differ from the standpoints of their opposing characters. It appears that Porphyria is from a slightly higher caste than that of her lover. This is evident through the mention of the gloves that she discards in line 12, and the “vainer ties” (line 24) she refuses to release. While the man who relates the poem may appeal to her fleshly desires, her other attachés appeal to the materialistic or social position she holds. In the same way, Jenny’s narrator states that, “this room of yours, my Jenny, looks a change from mine so full of books” (line 22-23). He may not be of a higher class than she, but he is from a different walk of life.
Already, this sets the stage for the next consideration of similarities, which is to be found in their approach to the lives of the victimized characters. Porphyria and Jenny’s lover seem to take for granted the position of their opposing characters. They operate on a come and go basis because they are making use of the desperation to be found in both people. The man who kills Porphyria has been led to virtual despondency by his real love for her, while she retains a compromised and excuse-filled relationship with him. The man who has visited Jenny and now reflects on who she really is, has taken advantage of her need for survival in the world that has been partially imposed, and partially created by her own hand. She is “Thankful for a little rest…from the heart-sickness and the din” (lines 71, 73), and he has provided that little rest for her. But, while he maintains a sympathetic tone to her plight in his inward musings, at last he leaves, having added one more thought to the thousands about her, but nothing to cause her to think differently.
As a final issue, I would like to demonstrate that Jenny’s narrator and Porphyria herself choose not to see certain things to maintain their detachment from the difficulty they leave their lovers in. Jenny’s narrator says to himself, “do not let me thing of you, lest shame of yours suffice for two” (lines 91-92). It can be noted that he often delves farther into her situation to reveal the sadness, but after a prolonged exposure to it he disengages himself again, “come, come, what use in thoughts like this” (line 298). Similarly, Porphyria, upon entering her lover’s home appears to be unaware of the signs of his inward turmoil displayed in the physical surroundings. The house was cold and dark when she entered, with no fire burning for example (lines 7-9). Again, when addressing her lover, “no voice replied” (line15) and she ends by forcing a response from him. In an effort to keep their present situation intact, Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator effectively distance themselves from their partners so that they may continue to come and go as they wish.
In examining the text further through this interpretation I have discovered further questions and flaws in the possibilities of my interpretation. Perhaps it is to far-fetched to see Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator as manipulative as I have portrayed them. But to see Porphyria and Jenny’s narrator as two utterly similar characters in their positions and in their dealings with their opposing persons is a point of view that can be explored.
posted by Anonymous at 8:59 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home