My Last Duchess - Robert Browning Flashcards
What themes are shown in My Last Duchess?
- Power
- Loss
- Jealously
How is power shown?
Power is the main theme in this poem because the Duke had so much power over the duchess that he could kill her with one command, and even when she was dead he had power over her.
What quotes show power?
“The curtain I have drawn for you”
“my gift of a nine-hundred year old name”
“I gave commands and all smiled stopped together”
How do these quotes show power?
“I have drawn for you” shows that even though she is dead he still has power over her because only he can show the painting of her and only he can open or close the curtain. He has a lot of power because power and wealth has been in his family for “nine-hundred years”. “I gave commands” means that he gave commands to kill the duchess and then she dies “all smiles stopped”.
How is loss shown?
The duchess died and he losses the power he had over her so he controls the painting of her with the curtain.
What quotes show loss?
“looking as if she was alive”
“then all smiles stopped together”
How do these quotes show loss?
She is now dead but he has her on his wall “looking as if she were alive” so that the duke can still control her no matter what.
How is jealously shown?
The Duke kills he because he was jealous that the painter made her smile more than he did himself. He got her killed because then no one else can make her smile.
What quote shows jealousy?
“but who passed without much the same smile?
How does this quote show jealousy?
Because is shows that even thought the Duke makes her smile, others do as well and he sees this as a threat to him.
