my last duchess

“my last Duchess”

• links to themes: HUMAN POWER AND CORRUPTION, OPPRESSION AND INEQUALITY

• The prolocutor utilises the possessive adjective: "my" to assert control over the Duchess' character, minimising her autonomy and objectifying her seamlessly

“the curtain I have drawn for you”

• links to themes: HUMAN POWER AND CORRUPTION, OPPRESSION AND INEQUALITY

• The prolocutor hides his wife's painting from the world, controlling who he deems fit to view her

  • This heightens his perceived insecurity observed by the reader as the Duke is desperate to hide his wife's flirtatious image from onlookers, stemming from his urge to reduce her personage to a mere extension of his

    • Links to Genesis 3 - Eve originating from Adam's rib

• The Duke's character affirms his continued control over the Duchess, satisfying his urge to control her, even in death

• Within this quotation, the Duke further objectifies the Duchess, socially selling her personage to appease his guest, pandering to their desires

“a heart […] too soon made glad”

• links to themes: HUMAN POWER AND CORRUPTION

• The Duchess' promiscuous nature and easy affection made the Duke's obtaining of her feel inadequate, his social success reduced

  • The Duke views his wife's infidelity as a slight against his authority, signalling his loosening control on her character

“she ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift”

• links to themes: HUMAN POWER AND CORRUPTION

• The Duke inherently sees his wife as inferior, increasing his fury with her dismissal of his controlling nature

  • The Duchess' unfazed nature about her flirtations inadvertently reduces the impressive nature of the Duke's legacy, wounding his hamartia: his hubris

“his fair daughter’s self […] is my object”

• links to themes: HUMAN POWER AND CORRUPTION

• Through this quotation, it is clear the Duke aims to 'own' another wife, a trophy to promote his appeal

  • Thus it is clear the Duke utilises women within his life to solidify his superiority in wider society, portraying women as stepping stones to his success

“notice Neptune though […] thought a rarity”

• links to themes: HUMAN POWER AND CORRUPTION, OPPRESSION AND INEQAULITY

• As the Duke moves on from the Duchess' painting, he reduces her life to another of his object, free to be forgotten if he wishes

• The Duke aims to impress his guest, through the promotion of his material wealth and influence

  • This links to the Duke's inherent insecurity within his societal position, catalysed by the fleeting attention of his late wife

context

• written in 1842

• poem set in Ferrara, Italy

• 1561 - Duke of Ferrara’s wife died in suspicious circumstances

• the poem being set in Ferrara eludes to the poem being about the Duchess of Ferrara

structure

• utilises enjambment

  • subdues the impact of the rhyming couplets

• dramatic monologue

• poem only contains 1 stanza in blank verse but w/ convoluted language

  • demonstrates how the Duke wants to assert his social superiority through his education level

• doesn’t have a rhyme scheme

  • this coupled with the 1st person narrative that creates a disjointed stream of consciousness