Perspectives On Women In Brownings Poetry Essay -- English Literature

Perspectives On Women In Brownings PoetryOne of the recurring themes in the poetry of Robert Browning, is thatof woman, and it is this that I have elect to focus on.In The first of the poems I have chosen to look at, Porphyrias Lover,Browning initially portrays the female character as the single with thepower, although this in needfully removed from her.In the opening lines of the poemThe rain set early in tonight,The sullen wind was soon awakewe gain a sense of forboding as the landscape of the poem seems toreflect the state of mind of the narrator, this is further explored inthe next both lines where the speaker describes the weather asspiteful. All the narrator erect do at this point in the poem is listento the weather outside and he is completely helpless.I listened with heart fit to break.However when Porphyria enters the poem, she alters the circumstancesby replacing cold with warmth and seems completely unaffected by theweather even though it is she who has been out in it. And kneeled and made the cheerless grate blaze out up and all the cottage warmPorphyrias actions at this point in the poem seem effortless indirect contrast to the impotence of her lover.Porphyria continues to take stick at this point in the poem byremoving the evidence of the wet, cold weather outside, and even whenher lover is unresponsive she manipulates the situation, moving hisarm around her and placing his issue upon her shoulder. We see at thispoint that her lover is the weaker of the two, but this is soonaltered as in the linesToo weak for all her hearts endeavour,To set its struggling passion handsomeFrom prideWe finally see Porphyria described as weak, ... ... beeven more attractive to the poetWhat is far conquers what is near.These women are the most perfect in the poets eye as they are whateverhis imagination is capable of creating, they are the perfectidealistic objectification. These women spring from the poetsimagination in the moment of the poem being written fa irish as they willspring from the earth to which he has returned.I will make an Eve, be the artist that began her,Shaped her to his mindIn Porphyrias Lover and Women And Roses, Browning treats us to twovery different poems where a woman or women are the main subjectmatter. However, in both poems we see that the ideal figure of womanis one who has passed or is yet to be born as then she is able toexist in the most perfect state possible, not that of a concrete personwith flaws and free will, but in that of a pure fantasy.