Porphyria's Lover

"Porphyria's Lover" is a poem by Robert Browning that explores themes of love, possession, and madness. It narrates how a man, overwhelmed by passion, kills his lover—Porphyria—believing her love is perfect and eternal. The speaker justifies his act by claiming he has captured her forever by positioning her as he pleases, symbolizing control and obsessive longing. The poem raises questions about the boundaries of love and the darkness that can lie beneath intense emotions. Overall, it delves into the complexities of desire and the potential for destructive obsession.