My Last Duchess Flashcards
What is the context of the duke of Ferrara
Also known as alfonzo II and served as the fifth duke of Ferraro. He is widely considered to be the inspiration for the poem as the poem is set in Ferrara and browning was fascinated and obsessed with the story of his lie
Alfonzo II first wife died under suspicious circumstances and the duke was believed to have been a murderer. He went on to have other wives later
How is the industrial Revolution shown in my last duchess
Poem was written during industrial revolution when society was starting to see social mobility in terms of class as well as gender as women starting to demand equality and saw the beginning of the suffrage movement
Beforehand views of women were very dehumanising and women would become property of their husbands upon marriage losing right to all property and possessions
These patriarchal views are shown in the line “I choose never to stoop” which suggests the speaker thinks there’s no point arguing with a woman because they won’t ever come to understand. The woman’s role was firmly situated in the domestic sphere
What is the context of the duchess
Poem is set in the Italian renaissance when art was heavily valued within society. Browning was interested in this time period and results in the focus of the poem being the dukes artwork specifically the portrait he had made of his now dead first wife
The conflict within the poem is subtle but displays itself in the power the duke has over the duchess life. There is also a conflict between how the duke presents himself in the outside world vs his true nature
Conflict arose when he realised he couldn’t control his wife and he retaliated by killing her which is an abuse of power and control
What is the perspective of my last duchess
An example of a persona poem. In this case the speaker takes on the persona of the Duke of Ferrara. Through taking on a persona, Browning can use the character to give the reader a message about the wider context
Perspective of “my last duchess”
The first person present tense narrative gives the speaker a substantial volume of jurisdiction over the text as he controls what he tells the reader. Reflects the authority that the duke holds over women and his subjects and could be extended to the readers to. The first person narration means that the content can be biased, exaggerated or untrue
How is “my last duchess” in a dramatic monologue
Shows the domineering presence of the duke and how we are exclusively exposed to his perspective.
Provides the reader with a biased account of the narrative
No female side to story mirroring how there was no female side to tjr narrative of a Victorian society either. Women had no right to vote or hold any sort of jurisdiction showing how brownings Criticism of the dukes abuse of power is thus a criticism of the inequality in who holds power
