Browning's criticism of the idea of self-restraint is evident throughout the poem "Porphyria's Lover" as it was shown in the internal debates both characters underwent as they decided whether or not they should consummate the love between them. "When no voice replied" as the young lady approached, the speaker revealed his attempt to restrain himself from fulfilling his carnal desires. Porphyria's acts of seduction, the conscious intent of placing his "arm around her waist" and

Taking the author's history into account, one may well in fact view the poem as a representation of the progression of his relationship with Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Considering the arguments I have presented previously about the presence of subduing self-restraint and going against the socially accepted moral ethics of the society in which Browning was part of, the history between the author and his wife create an uncanny semblance, a parallel one might add, to the poem's underlying context. The fact that he eloped with his wife, an act that was considered unacceptable during their time, displays one form for his life to be transformed into poetry.

The use of his dramatic monologue presents us with the seemingly one-sided perception that the speaker possesses, but after some careful analysis, one will see that this is untrue. Although the events taking place were seen through the speaker's eyes, there was more continual focus on the Porphyria's personality than that of the speaker. It speaks more of her desires and her wishes

Some common words found in the essay are:
Porphyria's Lover, Robert Browning's, Browning Considering, Browning's Taking, unpoetic language, dramatic monologue, porphyria's lover,
Approximate Word count = 699
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)