Analysis of My Last Duchess

Analysis of "My Last Duchess"

ENG125: Introduction to Literature

Prof. Altfeldfisher

March 5, 2010

The poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is a dramatic monologue that is "only one person's contribution to the conversation is revealed." (Clugston, 2010, ch.11.7) The poem is in first person persona told by Alfonso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara. The Duke of Ferrara first wife died of poisoning which this poem is really about his late Duchess. Robert Browning wrote during the Victorian period and the language of "My Last Duchess" is written in that language. In this poem, Duke shows symbolism, jealousy, control, and irony.

The title of this poem caught my eye the work "Last" meaning past. In this poem, the Duke is speaking to his future father-in-law the count and they are arranging for his marriage to his daughter. When the poem opens up he is showing the count a portrait of the Duchess "That's my last duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive." (Clugston, 2010, Ch. 11.7, lines 1-2) When I started reading the poem and read these lines, it made me think that the Duke is keeping the picture as a symbol of control of the Duchess even in her death. He tells the count about the painter who is "Fra Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands." (Clugston, 2010, ch.11.7, lines, 3-4) He describes the painters hands not him as a person, this shows that he thinks of him as a tool not a person. In the poem, he uses many symbols to describe his wife's personalities. "For calling up that spot of joy. She had A heart -- how shall I say? -- too soon made glad, Too easily impressed: she liked whate'er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere." (Clugston, 2010, ch.11.7, lines, 21-24) These lines show that the Duchess was happy all the time and smiled at everyone. I feel the Duke was jealous of the Duchess being so nice to everyone and he could not change her or control that part of her.

While talking to the count he describes how he made the Duchess to stop smiling. "Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands, Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands As if alive." (Clugston 2010, ch.11.7, lines 43-46) This shows that the Duke arranged her death and made all the smiles stop. He does not kill her himself but commands someone else to do it. He could not control her so he had her killed this shows his jealousy and control of the Duchess. In addition, it is ironic that he is telling the count all this while he is arranging to marry his daughter. I would think that the count would not