Porphyria Lover Weakness

In Robert Browning’s poem, “Porphyria Lover,” both the speaker and Porphyria desire to be the most dominate partner in their relationship. Porphyria, however, brings tension into their relationship when she constantly attempts to be the most dominate partner. As the tensions keep increasing, the speaker finds it hard to fulfill his role as a man. However, when Porphyria’s weakness is brought to the speaker’s attention, he attempts to take full advantage. In the beginning of the poem, Porphyria appears to be the most dominate partner. For example, when Porphyria enters the cottage, she becomes very active, while the speaker remains still: “She is active, he is passive; she is talkative, and he is silent; she comes in after
Unable to demonstrate himself as a man, the speaker finds himself resentful: “The fact that the woman is more powerful in the relationship is contrary to the stereotype, and this may be the reason for the speaker’s resentment” (Hacht 155). Even though Porphyria remains to have complete control over their relationship, she shows her weakness by expressing her love for the speaker: “Murmuring how she loved me—she / Too weak, for her heart to endeavor” (Browning 21-22). Hacht indicates, in the beginning, when Porphyria comes from “what she needed to do, she is weak and struggling, tor n between the party’s allure and coming through wind and rain to be with him” (155). However, when Porphyria compromises her dominance by showing her devotion, the speaker takes the opportunity to have total control. By regaining control, and as a result his manhood, the speaker decides to kill Porphyria to preserve her love towards him forever: “Perfectly pure and good: I found / A thing to do, and all her hair / In one long yellow string I wound / Three time s her little throat around / And strangled her. No pain had she felt” (Browning 37-41). Annie Hacht realizes that “[w]hen he (speaker) kills her, he finally reverses their roles so that he is in control” (155). After the speaker kills Porphyria, he “feels his action is justified because he has captured . . . the be a uty of their relationship” (Hacht 156). As a result, the speaker willingly kills his lover, so he is able to control her and their