Comparing Porphyria's Lover 'And My Last Duchess'

Murder in the name of Love
Comparisons and Contrasts of Porphyria’s Lover and My Last Duchess

Robert Browning was an author of two very eerie and dramatic monologues known as, Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess. Although both poems have very related themes, they still contrast in ways that are too apparent to go unnoticed. You clearly recognize the similarities of both writings in the way that oddly enough, both point of views come from insecure men and they both irrationally kill the women they claim to love. Similarities are also found by the way both men react to the psychotic crimes they have committed. Obvious differences of both writings are found by taking a more in depth look into the stories. In doing so it is found that the class
between men is in high contrast, as well as the status of women in their relationships and the motivation of the killing. Analyzing both monologues carefully gives the reader an insight that is hardly given at first glance. My Last Duchess comes from the mind of a duke. Rich and high in class, it is proven that he is of the superior opposition.
We see this clearly stated in the way he talks of himself and of his name in line 33, “My gift of a nine-hundred-year-old name.” He is very aware of his status quo and does not have shame in stooping low enough to point it out and take advantage of it. He demands commands and will not bow down to anyone. Demonstrated in the way he calls himself “Master” and ends up getting what he desires in the end. In this same sense we see that Porphyria's Lover is not rich, but is actually quite the opposite. This being one of many differences between the two men. Lines 7-10 of Porphyria's Lover, “She shut the cold out and the storm, And kneeled and made the cheerless grate/Blaze up, and all the cottage warm” Paying attention to these lines you see that her lover does not live in any palace or mansion, but a cottage. This symbolizes nothing of wealth, but strongly suggests that he is poor. Yet, despite the class difference, these two men very much resemble each other in the way that they are very insecure. They very well try to build themselves up to build false confidence, “The Count your master's known munificence” Line 49 from My Last Duchess is the duke clearly trying to illuminate his
masculinity. The way he refers to himself and how he is automatically correct in whatever he assumes, falsely accuses him of being a man of security. “Porphyria worshipped me; surprise” in line 43 of Porphyria's Lover we see that he feels as if he is worshipped, or at least makes it out to be that way, proving that he is better than whoever he believes he is in competition with. Not only does he relish in the attention he gets, but he suggests that he deserves it. Although, both men give off the vibe of being very confident and overly bold, the reader eventually finds it to be a mirage. Broken down by the way they react to the simple things their lovers do, you start to realize that these are not actions of someone who is confident. Afraid to be in comparison with anyone else results to death in both these stories all because of how unsure they are about themselves.

Focusing more on the women than the characteristics of men, we catch another difference.
Very little information is leaked on the personalities or views of the two women, but we see that they are different in the status they carry with their lovers. Porphyria cannot necessarily even be proven to be a girlfriend, but only a lover. ‘From pride, and vainer ties dissever,” Line 24 of Porphyria's Lover we find that the man strongly believes she is unfaithful to just being his. We cannot base any facts off of what the men say, but we find no literal obligation that Porphyria would have to be faithful to her lover. The status of a girlfriend (if even) is not comparable to the status of a wife. Which leads us to the next woman, the wife of the duke. Where obligation is found and the status between duke and duchess is more prominent. This is proven simply in the title of the story, My Last Duchess. This undeniable difference is no exception to the uncanny comparison between both monologues. The fact that both men kill their lovers subsides with whether or not their status is necessary. “That's my Last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive” lines 1-2 in My Last Duchess state that she is no longer alive, reading further it becomes evident to assume that the duke had killed her. “A thing to do, and all her hair In one long yellow string I wound Three times her little throat around, And strangled her.” Lines 38-41 distinctively admit to the murder of his
lover.

Although, both men did kill their lovers it is apparent that the motivation behind the murders are not alike at all. The duke took rash action in spite, being used to getting his way he could not take anyone putting him on edge. Instead of dealing with the issue, he killed it. To not be made a fool he acted out in a way of revenge. He saw it as a game or a mere act of taming what would not listen to him, line 55, “Taming a sea horse, thought a rarity.” A difference in action is shown in the way that Porphyria's Lover excuses his act of domestic violence. In the most bizarre way possible, it is found not an act of selfishness but an act of love. He loved her so much, that it become obsessive and he could not handle her belonging to anyone else. We prove this even in the way that he kills her- making sure she did not feel any pain. Lines 41-42 “No pain felt she; I am quite sure she felt no pain.” This is found to even show more compassion than the duke showed for his wife. Motivation is a huge difference, yet the way both men react to their homicides is frightening. Both have the attitudes that show no remorse whatsoever, “And yet God has not said a word!” In the last line of Porphyria's Lover he justifies his actions with the fact that no guilt has come from his actions and not even God has spoken out about it. So much causality is brought on with this horrible crime, “Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet The company below, then.” Lines 47-48 show how nonchalant the duke acts after he tells the story of his now deceased wife. Showing no emotion or regret to killing the love of his life.

Clearly, both stories compare and contrast in many ways. Both written by the same author, they exceed still to this day in being the creepiest love stories of all. Highlighting the main differences; class between men, status of women and motivation of murder it is still easy to spot similarities; the insecurity of both men, the way they react by killing, and how they are after committing the crime.