"Society's Expectations vs. Human Want"
Gabriella Agueci
Society's Expectations vs. Human Want
Sexual repression in Victorian society played an active role in the lives of everyone. Each class and both sexes were affected by this. Women grew up knowing their place in society and what was expected from them but no one spoke of it. It was a silent education discretely passed on to them from their mentors. Society’s structure and opinion towards the female sex created a belligerent conflict within many, society’s expectations versus human want.
In the poem Porphyria’s Lover the narrator’s hardened belief in the Victorian sexual ideals is clear. Browning portrays the character’s blatant beliefs that women are expected to remain “…Fair, perfectly pure and good…”(Browning 36-37) and he supports this in the most severe respect. To keep Porphyria as he sees her and to end her licentious acts he murders her, stating; “…In one long yellow string I wound, three times her little throat around, and strangled her…” (Browning 39-41)
The point of view Browning dons the narrator makes it clear that he perceives females as the inferior sex. Porphyria never directly speaks through out the entire poem; her thoughts and beliefs are translated through the mind of the narrator. The muting of Porphyria’s character makes one believe the narrator has an omniscient view but it becomes clear he is just forcing his ideals upon her when he says; “…No pain she felt; I am quite sure she felt no pain…” (Browning 41-42)The repetitiveness of that statement suggests the narrator is in a state of denial. He has the pressures and strict regiment of his Victorian lifestyle pressing down upon him as well as the love shared with Porphyria which seems rebel against everything he believes.
Evidence that the narrator is suffering from the conflict, society’s expectations versus human want, is discretely woven through out the poem. At the beginning when the narrator describes the stormy weather it places the setting in a cottage-type place in the country. Porphyria glides in, diligently starting a fire for her lover before she even takes off her wet clothes. This implies, firstly, that she traveled to this secluded place unattended; the fact her lover wouldn’t escort implies he may be in hiding or ashamed to be seen with her. The narrators torment surfaces when he says; “…She sat down by my side and called me. When no voice replied, she put my arm about her waist…” (Browning 14-16) He purposely ignores her, forcing Porphyria to come to him as would a servant. It’s again apparent, when he says; “...Murmuring how she loved me—she too weak, for all heart’s endeavor…” (Browning 21-22)This also proves he looks down on her, which suggests a class difference. Porphyria’s Lover is torn between the education Victorian society provided him and his unbridled need to be with his lover. In result he murders her, hoping to preserve her innocence and end his internal conflict.
Society's Expectations vs. Human Want
Sexual repression in Victorian society played an active role in the lives of everyone. Each class and both sexes were affected by this. Women grew up knowing their place in society and what was expected from them but no one spoke of it. It was a silent education discretely passed on to them from their mentors. Society’s structure and opinion towards the female sex created a belligerent conflict within many, society’s expectations versus human want.
In the poem Porphyria’s Lover the narrator’s hardened belief in the Victorian sexual ideals is clear. Browning portrays the character’s blatant beliefs that women are expected to remain “…Fair, perfectly pure and good…”(Browning 36-37) and he supports this in the most severe respect. To keep Porphyria as he sees her and to end her licentious acts he murders her, stating; “…In one long yellow string I wound, three times her little throat around, and strangled her…” (Browning 39-41)
The point of view Browning dons the narrator makes it clear that he perceives females as the inferior sex. Porphyria never directly speaks through out the entire poem; her thoughts and beliefs are translated through the mind of the narrator. The muting of Porphyria’s character makes one believe the narrator has an omniscient view but it becomes clear he is just forcing his ideals upon her when he says; “…No pain she felt; I am quite sure she felt no pain…” (Browning 41-42)The repetitiveness of that statement suggests the narrator is in a state of denial. He has the pressures and strict regiment of his Victorian lifestyle pressing down upon him as well as the love shared with Porphyria which seems rebel against everything he believes.
Evidence that the narrator is suffering from the conflict, society’s expectations versus human want, is discretely woven through out the poem. At the beginning when the narrator describes the stormy weather it places the setting in a cottage-type place in the country. Porphyria glides in, diligently starting a fire for her lover before she even takes off her wet clothes. This implies, firstly, that she traveled to this secluded place unattended; the fact her lover wouldn’t escort implies he may be in hiding or ashamed to be seen with her. The narrators torment surfaces when he says; “…She sat down by my side and called me. When no voice replied, she put my arm about her waist…” (Browning 14-16) He purposely ignores her, forcing Porphyria to come to him as would a servant. It’s again apparent, when he says; “...Murmuring how she loved me—she too weak, for all heart’s endeavor…” (Browning 21-22)This also proves he looks down on her, which suggests a class difference. Porphyria’s Lover is torn between the education Victorian society provided him and his unbridled need to be with his lover. In result he murders her, hoping to preserve her innocence and end his internal conflict.
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