My Last Duchess Flashcards
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive.
Dramatic monologue spoken entirely by the Duke.
Written in rhyming couplets to create the illusion of wholeness, he wants to have another partner. Tells us that the speech has been heavily rehearsed. Link to a danger of the patriarchal society.
“Last” is an allusion to death. Implies that he has married more than one duchess.
“Painted on the wall” shows that it is a fresco, creating a sense of urgency. He does not want the painting completed until she is killed.
‘twas not her husband’s presence only, called that spot of joy into the duchess’ cheek
“only” tells us that he was there while Fra Pandolf was there. “Fra” is short for friar so there is no sexual tension.
“Spot” implies sin, the sin being that the duchess takes joy in life.
As if she ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift
The Duke is disappointed because the duchess does not think his name is important, it is ranked with anybody’s gift. She is defying the patriarchal norm.
But who passed without much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together
The Duke had his wife killed.
He is annoyed that she smiles the same way she does to others. He kills her due to her lack of respect for him.
“Who passed without” connotes her being an object in his possession passing by.
“Passed” is a euphemism for death, perhaps the duchess did not expect to die.
The Duke represents nobility, Browning is arguing that these people have no sympathy for the lower classes.
Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Neptune taming a sea horse is a metaphor for the Duke controlling the duchess. Represents the patriarchal society where men are seen as Godlike and women are subhuman.
