My Last Duchess - Robert Browning

Summary

In the poem, the Duke of Ferrara speaks to a messenger sent by a ruler from a foreign land to secure marriage for his daughter. The Duke boasts about his art and a portrait of his former wife (covered up by a curtain). It becomes clear that the Duke was controlling and possessive. It is strongly hinted that he arranged for his 'last Duchess' to be killed.

Key Themes

Male power/arrogance.

Dominance.

Context

My Last Duchess was set in another era and country, but contains a political message and a criticism of society. In changing the setting of the poem, Browning helped disguise the criticism and make readers more accepting to the message. It was written in the Industrial revolution where society started to see social changes in gender and class. Before, women were seen a property of their husbands and incapable of rational thought, there was also an expectation of women to be modest and moral, female sexuality was taboo and the only way for women to gain status was through their husband.

The Duke of Ferrara - Alfonzo II - was considered the inspiration for the poem. Alfonzo II’s first wife died under suspicious circumstances and the duke was believed to have murdered her.

'Thats my

last Duchess painted on the wall’

Reader’s interest is invoked from ‘last’, there is an implication that the Duchess is dead - introduces a chilling aspect to the poem. Or that she was part of a series of Duchesses before her, this dehumanizes her and treats her as one in a line of possessions rather than an individual - Duke’s objectifying attitude

Possesive adjective ‘my’ hints at patriarchal authority and objectification, and the Duke quickly establishes from the start that he is in control.

‘Looking as if she

were alive’

Simile - compares the lifelike quality of the painting to the actual life of the Duchess, Browning blurs the lines between art & reality, highlighting the Duke’s preference for a controlled representation of his wife (the painting) rather than the uncontrollable reality of his wife.

There is a deep irony in this casual remark, the Duchess is dead, yet the Duke speaks like the painting suffices as a replacement - underscores the Duke’s callousness and his cold controlling nature. Suggests the Duke viewed his dead wife as a piece of art rather than sentimentally his wife - suggesting she was only ever a possession to him.

'Will't you please

sit and look at her?'

The Duke forces his visitor to sit down with this rhetorical question & ironic politeness - he isn’t genuinely asking; he expects compliance - underscores his arrogance and expectation of obediance. Also implies the Duke is in sole control of who sees her and sets up a sinister tone as the Duke is talking to the father of his soon to be new wife, warning him of what may happen to his daughter if she isn’t what the Duke expects of her - she will die and become a painting.

‘Fra

Pandolf’

Duke emphasizes and boasts about his wealth by referencing this famous artist that painted for him - demonstrates his influence, power and wealth. Also shows the Duke’s obsession with social status and the importance he places on material possessions and external validations - desire to be seen as elite and cultured.

Mention of art as a tool of power, the Duke uses the painting by Fra Pandolf to control how the Duchess is remembered and viewed by others - allows the Duke to keep her ‘alive’ on his terms - Browning critiques the use of art to exert power on individuals and how the Duke reduces the Duchess to a possession. This can be compared to the sculptor in Ozymandius that created an impression of Ozymandius that lasts even now.

Twas not / Her husband’s presence only, called

that spot/ Of joy into the Duchess’s cheek’

It is unreasonable to expect her to only gain joy from her husband, he expects her entire life to revolve around him: pleasing him and being pleased by him. Shows his complete domination of her life and also presents him as paranoid and controlling.

Enjambment - emphasizes the Duke’s attempt to control the narrative and underlines his jealousy as he carefully contructs his argument about his wife’s supposed infidelity.

The adverb ‘not’ conveys the Duke’s incredulity and resentment - egocentric personality.

‘She had a heart

-how shall I say? - too soon made glad’

The rhetorical phrase broken up by hyphens "-how shall I say?-" indicates a moment of hesitation, suggesting that the Duke is either struggling to find the right words or is being deliberately evasive. This pause gives the impression of false modesty and manipulation, as the Duke pretends to be thoughtful and considerate while actually being judgmental. By feigning a struggle to articulate his thoughts, the Duke aims to present himself as reasonable & thoughtful - masking his true controlling & jealous disposition. Also could convey how he is becoming irritable and distracted.

There is the contrast between the wife’s joyful nature and the Duke’s rigid expectations - highlights the incompatibility between the Duchess’s free spirited personality & the Duke’s controlling nature.

'My gift of a

nine-hundred years old name'

Possessive pronoun ‘My’ indicates ownership and pride for his family name, also highlights his sense of entitlement and his belief that his lineage is a ‘gift’ - noun - suggests something of high value and precious. Funny how the only thing of value he has to offer her is his name - not his personality or other qualities.

Ironic how he calls it a ‘gift’ when in reality it is essentially robbing her of her independent legal rights and establishing that she is now owned by him and has to take his name.

Hyperbole - ‘nine-hundred years old name’ accentuates the Duke’s pride in his ancestry and underscores his inflated sense self-worth. Browning could be commenting on how individuals in power are obsessed with lineage and social status

This grew; I gave commands;

Then all smiles stopped together.'

Euphemism for murder, shows the power he has - he can just kill her without consequence, but also shows such an overreaction - murder is a sign of a lack of self control.

The juxtaposition of discussing her death and then casually inviting the listener to continue the tour demonstrates his detachment and callousness.

'Notice Neptune

.../ Taming a sea-horse'

The metaphor of Neptune suggests he sees himself as godlike - he believes men are gods that must tame their wives-’taming a sea-horse’. Shows his excessive hubris and pride.