-
Essay / Porphyria's Lover and the Psychoanalytic Theory of Sigmund Freud
The protagonists of most of Robert Browning's monologues are psychologically twisted individuals, and Porphyria's Lover is arguably one with a psychoanalytic perspective. This essay seeks to discuss and apply Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory to the poem. To begin with, there is a stark contrast between the interior and exterior settings of the house in the poem. This contrast is a reflection of the duality of the human spirit: the human spirit is what it is because of its duality. Duality, in this case, means the ability to discern reality using opposites and this is exactly what the mind does, and Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory recognizes this fact. Although the exterior elements of the cottage are mostly lively and lively, the two lovebirds choose to rekindle their love in the warmth of the cottage's interior. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Sigmund Freud, as the originator of psychoanalytic theory, suggests that almost all human desires reside in the unconscious mind. The unconscious also acts as a reservoir of thoughts and all impulses that fall outside the realm of consciousness. According to Freud's psychoanalytic theory, the unconscious cannot be manipulated and personality and behavior are largely shaped by childhood experiences. Freud's idea of the unconscious is found in Porphyria's Lover. As a work of art, the poem is open to different interpretations, and one could interpret it as a gradual shift from psychotic to neurotic behavior. In the first part, the poet offers an objective description of Porphyria. He carefully and consciously chooses the words he uses to describe Porphyria. He uses words like “kneel,” “hover,” “bear,” and “stand” to describe the woman’s actions. There is an interaction between the id, ego and superego in the mind of the male lover. The id, the ego and the superego are the three interacting agents in the psychic apparatus described by Sigmund Freud in his theory. The id is a constituent of the unconscious, and it plays the role of driving force of human instinct while the superego occurs unconsciously through the application of parental and societal rules and norms. The ego is the part of the id that has been modified under the influence of the external world. The ego is rational and serves to negate both the id and the superego. There is this moment where the male lover's repressed sexual desires could have been consummated, but because of his insecurities, he chose to wrap his hair around her neck, strangling her in the process. This violent act of the male lover illustrates the triumph of the id over the superego, which is moralistic, and over the ego, which is realistic. The male lover has an immense desire to possess Porphyria, even in death. This is shown where he kills Porphyria after realizing that she will eventually succumb to the pressures of society. Doubt results from the rearrangement of the superego in the mind of the male lover. He has a domineering character, which makes it difficult for Porphyria to exercise self-control. The ironic turn of the protagonist's character justifies Browning's dramatic monologue. The fantasies of the speaker of the poem had stretched to the point of no return. The resulting actions, the result of the stretched fantasy, are manifestations of an extremely ruthless id that appreciates neither rules nor morality. Porphyria's Lover also shows that divine union is the intrinsic need of all humans, and it is immortalized in the phrase: "And give yourself to me forever." After Porphyria's death,.