My Last Duchess Flashcards
Robert Browning
Browning was born in England but lived in Italy for many years. He was fascinated by the Italian Renaissance (14th-16th centuries) — a period in which the arts flourished. ‘My Last Duchess’ was published in 1842.
Form
The poem is a dramatic monologue written in iambic pentameter. This reinforces the impression that the Duke is in conversation with his visitor. The rhyming couplets show the Duke’s desire for control, but the enjambment suggests that he gets carried away with his anger and passions. This creates a picture of a somewhat unstable character, whose obsession with power is unsettling.
Structure
The poem is framed by the visit to the Duke’s gallery, but the Duke gets caught up in talking about the Duchess instead of just describing the art. The poem builds towards a kind of confession, before the identity of the visitor is revealed, and the Duke moves on to talking about another artwork.
Power and objectification
The Duke felt the need to have power and control over the Duchess.
He saw her as another of his possessions, to be collected and admired, just like his expensive artworks.
“Not the first “- Creates the impression of a question from the visitor, but we hear it through the Duke — hes in complete control.
“Of mine” he’s arranging his next marriage
“None puts by the curtain “ - He controls who looks at the painting, but he couldn’t control who looked at his wife when she was alive.
“I said “ - The punctuation doesn’t end the line, with the Duke speaking again immediately - he doesn’t give his visitor a chance to speak
Dramatic irony
The things the Duke says about the Duchess seem quite innocent, but they often have more sinister meanings for the reader. There’s a gap between what the Duke tells his listener, and what the poet allows us to read between the lines.
“That spot if joy” x2 - reapeating this shows how much his wife’s blushes him and bothers him”
I gave commands : then all smiles stopped” - This seems to be a
euphemism for his wife’s murder. “I gave commands” is cold and cynical.
“ looking as if she was still alive “ - (start of the poem) sets a sin sister tone
Status
Status is really important to the Duke. He cares about how others see him.
“My gift of a nine-hundred-years old name”- he’s proud of his history and his titles
Pride
The Duke is very proud of his possessions and his status.
Jealousy
He couldn’t stand the way the Duchess treated him the same as everyone else (lines 31-34).
Power
The Duke enjoys the control he has over the painting (lines 9-10).
He didn’t have this power over the Duchess when she was alive.
