My Last Duchess Flashcards
My Last Duchess (title)
Possessive pronoun “my” - suggests he sees her as his possession
“Last” - implies she is one in a series of duchesses, and perhaps replaceable
Ferrara
Author is writing in character of a duke Ferrara
The entire thing is a dramatic monologue
Looking as if she were alive
(Talking about the painting)
Ominous - suggests he views his dead wife as a piece of art, implies she was only a possession to him
Will’t please you sit and look at her?
Rhetorical question - gives the sense he is used to giving orders and people obeying him
I said
‘Frá Pandolf’ by design
Emphasising and boasting about his wealth - referencing the famous artist (Pandolf) who painted it for him
Since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I
Sense of ownership/protectiveness - he controls who sees the painting
(Asking about the painting)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst
“If they durst” = if they dare - shows he has immense power over others, people are so scared they may not dare to ask him about the painting
‘Twas not
Her husband’s presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek
Unreasonable expectations - only wants her to get joy from her husband, expects to be her entire purpose in life, complete domination of her life
Also shows he is paranoid - about her even enjoying talking to other men
(Wonders if) Frá Pandolf (flirted with her)
Frá = prefix for a monk
Shows how envy has corrupted his perception of reality - he believes a monk would flirt with his wife
She had
A heart - how shall I say? - too soon made glad
Rhetorical question - seems rehearsed, performative
Her looks went everywhere
Repeated idea of jealousy, implying she was unfaithful
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her
Thinks she is being unfaithful, doesn’t approve of her receiving small gifts from others and being happy/grateful for them
He wants his wealth and status to be more important, shows his materialism - doesn’t value natural beauty (like a “bough of cherries”), sees her liking other things as a criticism of himself, suggests he is insecure, and he expects her to reserve her joy for only him
Sense of underlying vulnerability - reliant on controlling women to make himself feel powerful and desirable
As if she ranked
My gift of nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody’s gift.
Shows he holds status and power within society (talking about his surname) - also is a reflection on how the woman is now owned by her husband, as she has to take his name
Sense of entitlement and arrogance
Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile?
Sense of entitlement - she should value him above others (not smiling at everyone, only him)
I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together
Possible euphemism for her murder - suggests he had her killed due to disrespect
- shows the power he has, can kill and admit to it with no consequences
- also shows an overreaction, murder is a sign of a lack of control
Notice Neptune, though
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity
Metaphor of neptune - suggests he sees himself as godlike
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
More name-dropping to show his power, status, etc.
Exclamatory sentence, end of poem - suggests that he feels everything must be for only him, desires the feeling of exclusive ownership
Structure (rhyming couplets throughout)
Iambic pentameter - steady rhythm broken up by lots of punctuation
Rhyming couplets - creates a steady fast pace
Overview/summary of poem
He is showing a painting of his wife to a representative of the family of his bride-to-be (this emphasises his power in being able to admit to her murder to the representative)
Reveals his obsession with controlling others in the process
