My Last Duchess Flashcards
Context
This conversation is from the point of view of a man discussing his marriage to his new wife and the issues he had with his ex wife to the servant of her father (the new wife).
“That’s my last duchess”
“If she let herself be lessoned”
The possessiveness that the speaker seems to have over his ex wife is extremely overbearing, it seems that he views her almost as his possession. She’s viewed almost as an object just because they’re married to one another - this effect is amplified because he chooses who gets to see her painting, keeping her hidden behind a curtain and only revealing the expensive painting when he sees fit.
“Too soon made glad”
“Twas not her husbands presence only”
The speaker suggests that his wife was easy by saying that she smiled at many other men frequently and viewed gifts that she received from him and any other man with the same regard and didn’t appreciate the gift of his name enough. Its implied that he has a high status and is quite an arrogant man expecting respect from those around him.
