h shows that she was somehow hiding, careful not to be recognized by anyone outside. The lover then, describes her beautiful smooth skin and blond hair that he seems to know distinctively. Few words in the poem make us suggest the Porphyria belongs to an upper class society “from pride and vainer ties dis-sever”, she is too weak to fight for her love or admit it to the world. She is only attracted to him physically but when it comes to feeling, she would not accept him as a husband. As they sat together by the fire, the lover was overwhelmed with the pride and pleasure that she loved him. He wanted the moment never to end. He realizes that her undying love for him is not eternal; the only way to capture it is to take her life. In a sudden madness, he strangles her with her own blonde hair, to keep her his forever. Assuring and flattering himself that she wanted to die at that moment and that he did not really hurt her. “ No pain felt she; I am quite sure she felt no pain”. As the poem ends, the reader realizes with a shock that the lover is still sitting with the head of the dead Porphyria on his shoulder. We see here that the situation is reversed; he feels that he gained dominance after all. Finally, he tries to justify his terrible crime by saying that God is supporting him “ And yet God has not said a word”. This part puzzled me. Is browning mocking religion? Is he commenting on how women receive no voice or justice in so-ciety? Are women better off being dead than being an object of beauty and possession for men in life?COMMENTARY The power struggle between men and women seems to play a role in this poem. In a sense, Browning seems to be declaring through a sub theme that religion supports male dominance and suppression of female passion. I my opinion, this poem is unexpected and ironic. When you begin to read it you will never expect that this man will ...
