My last Duchess by Robert browning Flashcards
who is the author of my last duchess
Robert Browning
what poems compare to my last Duchess
Ozymandias by Percy Shelly
Structure
the single long stanza reflects the overwhelming power the Duke tried to inflict on the Duchess however the half rhyme / rhyming couplet ‘’ wall’’ ‘‘call’’ ‘‘hands ‘’ ‘‘stands ‘’ ‘‘said’’ ‘‘read’’ represents the Duchess’ unwilling ness to comply with the Dukes wants and this also highlights her individuality and independence that Cleary made the Duke become infuriated.
it could also represent the Dukes over flowing anger, powerless ness or power.
Poem written entirely in Iambic PENTAMETER reflects the tight control of the duke
‘I call
that piece a wonder now’
enjambment - highlighting the Dukes powerless as he attempts to control the Duchess but doesn’t successfully
language
'’my’’ - possessive pronoun repeated throughout the poem - duke is self obsessed and believe his wife belongs to him. He treated her like his own product it is almond like she was imprisoned by the Duke. Her life to him was a benefit for himself ( selfishness)
(egotistical) she was dehumanised - accessory
’’ will’t please you sit and look at her?’’ - he disguises his commands as questions highlight his slyness and deceitful nature and the lengths he will go to get his way even if it means what he appears to be does not match his true intentions.
He attempts to hide his powerlessness as essentially the Duchess was he only source of power. - he says will you ‘‘sit and look at her’’ because supposedly he realises the power the duchess holds and the beauty she presents as a result she is like a valuable piece of jewellery the Duchess is trying to show of hinting to hi powerless ness because he is seeking validation through his late wife not himself.
- showcases his jealousy he feels the need to take ownership and treat her like his object in order to inflate his ego so he can manipulate himself into thinking he is the true superior
'’will’t please you rise?’’ - social superior demanding something form an inferior
his attempts to control the duchess are futile
Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse through a rarity
metaphor for the duke himself and what he feels his role is over women, to dominate and domineer as Neptune is a Greek God symbolising power and superiority which clearly the duke wants to have.
context
victorian era - when a woman marries she became the legal property of her
