Explore how language is used in Robert Browning’s “Porphyria’s Lover”

In “Porphyria’s Lover” Browning uses language to show how obsession can lead to the desire to possess another to the extent that ultimately, the speaker kills Porphyria. Upon deciding to murder Porphyria, the speaker proclaims, “That moment she was mine, mine, fair,”. The repetition is indicative of the speaker’s irrepressible longing to completely possess Porphyria. Similarly, the metaphoric description of Porphyria’s hair “one long yellow string” reveals that to the speaker’s mind, Porphyria’s hair is no longer a part of her- rather it becomes the weapons that kills her. The speaker further objectifies Porphyria once she is dead, by referring to her no longer using personal pronouns- “her head”, but the definite article “the smiling little rosy head” and “so glad it has its utmost will”.After the murder, the speaker describes how Porphyria’s cheek “blushed bright beneath my burning kiss”. “B” is a plosive sound, which Browning uses to imply the passion the speaker feels towards his now deceased lover. The repeated “b” is particularly resonant as it represents the speaker’s need possess and preserve Porphyria.