Comparing Porphyrias Lover and Not To Blame
These two poems are similar in content as they both look at a dominant
male Character who think they have the right to abuse women. Although
they are similar they do have some differences which might be caused
by the time in which they are written "Porphyrias Lover" was written
in 1836 whereas "Not To Blame" was written much later in the1970's.
This affects the way the poems are developed and the way we as women
respond to the poems.
"Porphyrias Lover" was is written by Robert Browning in 1836.
"Porphyrias Lover" is written in a way where you know the mood of the
poem when you first start to read it.
The atmosphere in the opening scene is scary and eerie. This effect is
built up by the use of pathetic fallacy
"And did its worst to vex the lake"
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This builds up mystery and tension as we read more of the poem.This
makes the reader feel uneasy and reflects the mood of the man inside
the cottage so we expect that something bad is going to happen.
This poem is written from the view of a man who loves Porphyria and we
get given the impression that Porphyria is the only good thing in his
life as when she walks in he says
"She shut the cold out and storm
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She Kneeled and made the cheerless Grate"
This is saying that all the coldness and angry atmosphere from outside
is being blocked once she comes. Her beauty takes over and warms up
the cottage.
The Title "Porphyrias Lover" does not really tell you very much about
the poem. It tells you that it is about a man who loves Porphyria but
it is not clear whether it is about the man who is telling his story
or another man who Porphyria maybe seeing.
"A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and in all in vien"
This gives the impression that Porphyria does not love him with all