Having been a student of English literature, I am quite familiar with the poet Robert Browning and his dramatic monologues. But it is in a different context that I was drawn to his poem .“ Porphyria’s Lover” , which is about a lover , who after reclaiming his lost love kills his beloved- in a fit of uncontrollable euphoric frenzy - by strangulating her with her tresses . As per the poet’s explanation, he does this to perpetuate the feeling of love for him that he sees in the eyes of his beloved. This, to me and perhaps to many like me may only appear to be a case of abnormal psychology.The lover in this case is clearly a psychopath There are instances when a possessive husband like Othello, kills his beloved wife Desdemona on baseless suspicion of infidelity, the seeds of which are sown in his mind by Iago , the villain of the piece. There are also instances galore of jilted lovers killing the beloved , their professed love being one sided and unrequited , but this instance appears to be unique . This also puts to question the tag of “ incorrigible optimist “ attached to the poet Browning as this action of the lover stems from the uncertainty and insecurity that the future may hold as far as love life is concerned. This is also contrary to his popular belief :
“God is in his heaven and everything is right with the world ” , as how does one explain the killing of a young , innocent , unsuspecting woman at the hands of a person in whose company she seeks bliss of eternal love !
The link for the poem is :
http://www.love-poems.me.uk/browning_robert_porphyrias_lover_l.htm
Such cases are not very uncommon. Indeed mentally sick they are. They are weak and easily lose control over their senses. a couple of months back i have written a post on obsessive love. You may find it relevant here.
ReplyDeletehttp://zealzen.blogspot.com/2011/05/obsession.html
प्रेम से उपजते शिकारी , बलात्कारी और कातिल -- (obsession)
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This mindless obsession is nothing but a mental sickness. Such cases are increasing substantially
ReplyDeleteat present. True lover can never harm his/her love.
@ Zeal
ReplyDelete@ Kailash C Sharma
Thanks, both of you ! BTW , Zeal ! I had gone through your above referred post and posted my comments also. What intrigues in this poem is that the lady has serene and calm look even in death and there is no sign of struggle or pain. In a way the killer has tried to justify his action as if he has freed his beloved from pain and illness and provided her welcome relief ! However, there can hardly be any justification for murder .
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ReplyDeleteIndeed in this particular case , there is no justification of murder but the lover is not matured , serious and a responsible person. In my humble opinion it is a good example of love in teens, where children know nothing about actual love. They are just mesmerized and do silly actions in euphoria.
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Everything is possible in love :)))
ReplyDeleteThe youth of today don't know the meaning of love. They want their love at any cost. They don't care about their beloved's feelings. They think of her as a mere possession or belonging on which they have absolute right and none can infringe upon it.
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