The Similarities and Differences in My Last Duchess and Porphyria's Lover

The Similarities and Differences in My Last Duchess and Porphyria's Lover

'My Last Duchess' and 'Porphyria's Lover' are poems written by Robert

Browning in the form of a dramatic monologue. They both contain themes

of love, jealousy, contempt and obsession.

In the beginning of 'My Last Duchess' the Duke is speaking about his

wife's portrait to an envoy. In 'Porphyria's Lover' the Lover is

speaking directly to the reader, conveying his thoughts, personifying

the weather perhaps emphasizing his unhappiness ('the sullen wind soon

awake') seeing as he had a 'heart fit to break'. Both the Duke and the

Lover are watching the women whilst they speak. The Duke hints at her

having affairs; 'Fr. Pandolf's hands worked busily', 'busily' implies

that he did more than just paint her picture. The Lover in

'Porphyria's Lover' shows a similarity, as he too was suspicious of

her love, believing she would not give herself fully to him as she was

'from pride and vainer ties', from a higher rank. Both Porphyria and

the duchess are of high ranking. The difference here is that the Duke

believed his wife did not give herself fully to him, but was as

equally impressed with everyone and everything, and the Duke was too

proud to give her the same attention. In 'Porphyria's Lover' the Lover

believed Porphyria was too proud to give him her undivided attention.

The Duke felt that the duchess treated every trivial object with the

same affection she had for him, 'too easily impressed, she liked

whate'er she looked on'.

Although both the Duke and the Lover felt unloved in the beginning

neither made any attempt to convey this to their lovers. The Lover

pretended to be asleep when Porphyria entered the home ('When no voice

replied'...

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... a sculpture created for him; showing

the pompous aspect of his character.

In the beginning of the poem, the Lovers' tone is cold, hostile and

annoyed portrayed through words like 'sullen', 'spite' and 'vex'. When

Porphyria appears, his attitude becomes obsessive and appreciative, as

he watches her every movement as she 'glides' around the house,

observing her 'yellow hair'. There is still a bitter quality to his

words as he contemplates her love for him ('Too weak, for all her

heart's endeavor To set its struggling passion free'). When the Lover

realized Porphyria did genuinely love him his tone is ecstatic and

rapturous.

'Porphyria worshipp'd me; surprise

Made my heart swell

While I debated what to do.

That moment she was mine, mine fair,'

The line exposes his arrogance after he has murdered his Lover, 'And

yet God has not said a word'.