Corrected Poem
The rain set early in the night,
The sullen wind was soon awake,
It tore the elm‑tops down for spite,
And did its worst to vex the lake.
I listened with a heart fit to break.
When she glided in, Porphyria; straight
She shut the cold out and the storm,
And kneeled and made the cheerless grate
Blaze up, and all the cottage warm.
Which done, she rose, and from her form
Withdrew the dripping cloak and shawl,
And laid her soiled gloves by, untied
Her hat and let the damp hair fall.
And, last, she sat down by my side
And called me. When no voice replied,
She put my arm about her waist,
And made her smooth white shoulder bare.
And all her yellow hair displaced,
And, stooping, made my cheek lie there.
And spread, over all, her yellow hair,
Murmuring how she loved me — she.
Too weak, for all her heart’s endeavour,
To set its struggling passion free
From pride and vainer ties dissever,
And give herself to me forever.
But passion sometimes would prevail,
Nor could to‑night’s gay feast restrain
A sudden thought of one so pale
For love of her, and all in vain.
So she was come through wind and rain.
Be sure I looked up at her eyes,
Happy and proud; at last I knew
Porphyria worshipped me; surprise.
Made my heart swell, and still it grew
While I debated what to do.
That moment she was mine, mine, fair,
Perfectly pure and good: I found
A thing to do, and all her hair
In one long yellow string I wound.
Three times her little throat around,
And strangled her. No pain felt she;
I am quite sure she felt no pain.
As a shut bud that holds a bee,
I warily opened her lids: again
Laughed the blue eyes without a stain.
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Summary of Poem
The narrator, alone in a cottage during a storm, welcomes Porphyria into his home. He comforts her, and they share a moment of intimacy. Feeling the power he holds over her, the narrator strangles Porphyria with her own hair. He believes the act is perfect and that no pain remains for her. The poem ends with the narrator’s contentment and a final assertion that no divine voice will condemn him.
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Analysis of Poem
Theme
The central theme is the exercise of absolute power and control over another being.
Tone
The narrator’s voice is confidently calm, occasionally self‑reflective, yet tinged with obsessive pride.
Poetic Devices
– **Enjambment**: Lines flow into each other to mirror the narrator’s unbroken thought process.
– **Alliteration**: Repetition of initial consonants (“sullen,” “slow”) emphasizes mood.
– **Metaphor**: Porphyria’s hair as a “yellow string” reflects a tangible, almost musical element that the narrator manipulates.
– **Imagery**: Vivid sensory details (“smooth white shoulder,” “damp hair”) create a tangible scene.
– **Foreshadowing**: Early description of the storm hints at the violence to come.
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Poetic Devices (Detailed)
– **Alliteration** – “sullen wind,” “cheerless grate”
– **Enjambment** – continuous sentences across lines
– **Imagery** – “yellow hair,” “smooth white shoulder”
– **Metaphor** – “yellow string”
– **Symbolism** – the storm as a catalyst for the narrator’s cruelty
– **Repetition** – repeated emphasis on possession (“my arm”)
– **Personification** – “the storm,” “the wind”
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“Porphyria’s Lover” presents a disturbing look at how an individual may perceive dominance as an act of affection. The poem’s structure and diction reinforce the narrator’s unrelenting control, while the dark irony of his belief that no pain exists for Porphyria exposes the fragility of the power he wields. This text continues to be studied for its bold exploration of domination, its technical mastery, and its stark moral implications.