The poem was written just before the start of Queen Victoria's rule, as societal standards were shifting towards repressiveness (and particularly towards repression with respect to female sexuality) but not in the heyday of Victorian principles, which didn't occur until much later in the century. Porphyria is the disease which is believed to have caused the madness of King George III and of Vincent Van Gogh - symptoms include hallucination, paranoia, depression and more -- and yet, Browning would have known none of that when he crafted his poem about a man in love with a woman named Porphyria, which manages to equate love and madness.
While the language is transparent, it is the meaning of the poet, his intention in writing the monologue that has baffled the critics. Some have regarded it as a “social satire”, on the pride of rank and birth; others have called it a study in morbid and abnormal psychology. Still others are of the view that in the monologue, the poet advocates a bold and unconventional behaviour on the part of true lovers. There is no doubt that Browning always commended bold action, even if it was considered improper by society, as necessary for success in love. For example, his Duchess in The Flight of the Duchess elopes with her Gipsy lover, and the poet is all admiration for her. While there can be no doubt that the poet would like a hold out a bold action, like that of Porphyria, there is no justification for believing that he would go to the extent of advocating a murder, even for the sake of love.
Porphyria's declaration of true passion of love for him makes the lover active. He finds that Porphyria's is not sorry for giving up her wealthy family. She looks happy and proud on making great sacrifices for the sake of true love. He realizes that Porphyria's love is as true as devotion; she really worships him. He fails to understand what in him has impressed her so strongly. He is proud of her love. He thinks how to preserve this pure love in the selfish imperfect world. At this moment she is perfectly pure and good. She is ready to sacrifice her all for him but what about the next moment. He has no power to protect her from the fury of her father and brothers, who feeling insulted on account of her elopement, may force her to marry someone else or even torture her to death. He wants to save her from it. He takes an abnormal decision. He encircles her throat with her long hair and strangles. He thus, fulfils her desire to breathe her last in the arms of her lover. Now none can take away her from him:
“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.”
Porphyria's lover narrates his action. He supports her head on his shoulder. Her head looks like a beautiful rose. He believes she is excessively happy for her greatest wish is fulfilled. She has died in the arms of her lover. Now she is free from mean worldly pride of this selfish imperfect world. She has attained her lover in place of those things.
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