For the majority of people, murder is a completely unthinkable crime which goes against all the rules and restrictions imposed by the morals of religion and society. Consequently, if ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ was interpreted in a completely literal manner with an unwavering resolves of right and wrong, most readers would find it impossible to truly sympathise with the narrator. However, human emotions allow for more complex reactions to the behaviour elicited in Browning’s poem.

From the onset of the poem, the reader is exposed to the extreme isolation and gloom experienced by the narrator through both the setting and the use of pathetic fallacy as ‘the sullen wind was soon awake’. The characters state seems pitiful as he ‘listened with heart fit to break’ due to Browning’s use of the dramatic monologue form and the reader is lured into showing at least a little sympathy for his unfortunate situation. Browning’s description of Porphyria only heightens our level of empathy for the narrator as the warmth and comfort surrounding her when she ‘glided in’ and ‘made the cheerless grate blaze up’. This new character is an enigma, and soon becomes an obsession for the reader due to the manner in which the narrator clearly worships her. Both emotions of sympathy and empathy for the narrator are established quickly, prior to the murder, making his later actions more of a shock to the reader and resulting in a variety of emotional responses.

One plausible response to Porphyria’s physical strangulation is for the reader to be completely horrified and automatically cut off from the narrator. For those who are religious and the contemporary readers of this poem, the murder would have been the ultimate sin and consequently any previous emotional understanding would have been shattered. The disturbing, sarcastic tone used when describing her ‘darling one wish’ is repulsive, alienating the reader and provoking a feeling of betrayal by the man who lulled us into a false sense of security. What is yet more disturbing is that the narrator appears to feel no remorse for his actions, instead he is exultant that ‘I, its love, am gained instead!’

The latter reactions would be present in most readers; however, for some this may only remove any empathy they may experience for Porphyria’s lover. This doesn’t mean that sympathy should be completely discredited. In modern society, we have a greater access to information regarding various mental health issues and may instead feel compelled to make an attempt to diagnose the murderous character. The narrator’s isolated situation suggests that he is removed from society and consequently implies that he may suffer from some mental, psychological or social disability thus allowing a different perspective upon his disturbing behaviour. It can be interpreted that the narrator truly believed that his actions were what Porphyria wanted. Through verbatim dialogue, the female is shown to be ‘too weak, for all her heart’s endeavour, to set its struggling passion free’ and after her death, the narrator claims that Porphyria’s head was ‘so glad it had its utmost will’.

The narrator also exudes many traits that are understandable and common in many people. He seems to have a fear of rejection, which is to be expected when one recalls the suggestions that his lover is of a higher status than himself. The mounting frustration that may  have resulted from taking part in this implied affair with Porphyria and the knowledge that she would never plausibly commit to him due to social differences could have driven him to the brink of despair in their relationship. The hints of obsession conveyed earlier in the poem make the narrators claim in line 36  that ‘she was mine, mine, fair’ show the desperation that would have driven the man to such extreme lengths. Although it is an action far too extreme to consider for the reader, it is not beyond the realms of expectation in a completely obsessed and desperate soul.

In conclusion, the disturbing behaviour of Porphyria’s lover, is not completely impossible to sympathise with due to many modern ways of thinking, such as atheism, openness and a greater insight into psychological disorders. On the other hand, it would be impossible for most readers to empathise with.