Porphyria’s Lover (An interpretation)

Robert Browning was an author who appreciated shocking his readers. During the Victorian Era as well as present day, the immorality of this poem has attracted many readers. It includes themes of violence and sexuality, so reader beware! The poem opens the minds of its readers to the structure of society, which not only pertains to the Victorian Era, but also to contemporary society.
“Pure and good” (line 37) are the two descriptive words used by the speaker to reveal the emergent feelings of his lover, Porphyria. The apparently unexpected admission of her impassioned love ended tragically with her death by strangulation at the hands of her lover. This shocking deed was accomplished by using her own hair to end her life (lines 38-41). The rhyme scheme of this poem, which is ABABB, sets an unsettling mood and is also matched up with the speaker’s calm tone. It causes the reader to ponder the type of relationship the two characters shared. Was it an abusive relationship hidden behind closed doors? Or was it simply a random act of power or anger, on the part of the speaker, after discovering his lover’s true feelings? The honesty of Porphyria’s emotions afforded him the opportunity to attempt to capture a dominant role even if it was only for a moment.
“No pain felt she; I am quite sure she felt no pain” (lines 41-42). These lines provide an example of repetition and in this case it is almost as if the speaker is second guessing himself. There was not a single reference of struggling and the speaker did not question in advance if strangling his lover would cause her to feel pain. This was a momentary judgment, a thought of power and he later checks to make sure that she actually is dead by carefully opening her eyelids (line 44). He does not notice any hemorrhaging of the veins in her eyes, which is a sign of struggle and death, so is she really dead?
Three times Porphyria’s hair was wrapped around her throat (line 40). The number three holds a great deal of significance, especially in view of the fact that it is used with reference to the Holy Trinity: the father, son, and holy spirit. The speaker says “And yet God has not said a word!” (line 60). Acting out the worst sin known to man and the speaker goes unpunished by God, suggests that possibly he does not believe in God. He could also be waiting for proof or challenging if God in fact does exist. Returning back to “pure and good,” this also suggests perhaps that she was above his social class. She might hold more power in society than him - a woman with authority over a man. It is also considered immoral in Victorian times to associate, and even worse, to love an individual of lower class. The speaker indicates to the reader “Porphyria worshipped me” (line 33). He may have felt an imbalance of power and this was a reflection of the power he thought to have obtained.
The describing of physical attributes such as Porphyria’s yellow hair (line 20), her white shoulder (line 17), and those blue eyes (line 45) are classic illustrations of a white female. These illustrations might also refer to a “status” implication. The speaker described his lover’s hair as yellow string (line 39), not rope or golden locks. This, in a sense, is a demeaning way to refer to a female’s hair. He also explains her being small and fine, which again can be a class or stereotypical referral as a female.
Through further understanding of the poem, it does not suggest there to have been any type of sexual activity between the two. Porphyria must have had a difficult time dealing with the pressures of society during that era and it would be beneath her religiously and socially to engage in anything out of societal norms. The reader may also come to know that the death was not pre-meditated, it was simply an act of power at that specific moment in time. An act of temporary insanity.