"My Last Duchess," written by Robert Browning, is a dramatic monologue that tells the story of a Duke who is showing a portrait of his late wife, the Duchess, to a servant of a potential marriage prospect. Through the Duke's words and actions, the reader is able to uncover his controlling and jealous nature, as well as the power dynamics at play in the relationship between the Duke and the Duchess.
As a dramatic monologue, the poem is narrated by a single character, the Duke, who is speaking to an audience, the servant. The Duke's speech reveals his thoughts, feelings, and motives, allowing the reader to understand his character and the events of the poem.
One of the main themes of the poem is the Duke's possessiveness and control over the Duchess. He speaks of her as if she is a possession, saying, "I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together." This suggests that the Duchess was not allowed to express her own emotions or thoughts, and that the Duke expected her to comply with his demands. The Duke's jealousy is also evident in his mention of the "nine hundred [countries] I have in every one, / And would full willingly forget" if it meant the Duchess would be faithful to him. This shows that the Duke is not only possessive, but also paranoid that the Duchess may not be fully devoted to him.
The power dynamic between the Duke and the Duchess is also a prominent aspect of the poem. The Duke holds a high social status and is able to command others, while the Duchess is essentially silenced and powerless. This is exemplified by the Duke's decision to have the Duchess' portrait painted, as it allows him to control how she is portrayed and remembered. The Duke also speaks of the Duchess as if she is no longer alive, saying, "Will't please you rise? We'll meet / The company below, then." This further reinforces the Duke's control over the Duchess and suggests that she is no longer able to make her own decisions.
In conclusion, "My Last Duchess" is a powerful dramatic monologue that uses the Duke's words and actions to reveal his possessive and controlling nature, as well as the power dynamics at play in his relationship with the Duchess. The poem serves as a commentary on the expectations and limitations placed on women in a patriarchal society.
Dramatic Monologue "My Last Duchess" Essay Example
One way in which Robert Browning expresses his opinions is through the portrayal of the Duke and his power. The Duke does not shy away from asking for dowry and commands his visitor time and again in the poem. Her looks only when not fixed to the Duke but it went everywhere, slowly and humble nature of the Dutchess vexed the Duke. The smile that she gave to the Duke was like to the same smile that she gave others. Rather than be delighted by his wife's personality and the fact that she is so appreciative of every trivial compliment and small gift, he is irritated by the fact that she does not value him above everyone and everything else. My favour at her breast The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool broke in the orchard for her, the white mule She rode with round the terrace-all and each Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. Derozio is my teacher of youthful freedom.
Why is "My Last Duchess" a dramatic monologue?
Browning adopts here one of his favourite methods character-study. At the start of the play the men were talking down upon the women. Ans:- Steer means to control the direction of movement. He is no more the adoring and devoted spouse he used to be, he is presently distrustful and suspicious of everything around him and he is preconditioned to discover blame and is seeking in the most harmless circumstances. Oh, Sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whenever I passed her, but who passed without Much the same smile? The whole of this poem is but a …show more content… At the very start, the speaker appears a polite, well-bred man. Browning has presented the character of a duke who wants to rule his woman with an iron fist.
Dramatic Monologue
The Duke is the speaker of the poem. A dramatic monologue is a poem in the form of a speech made by an imaginative person created by the author. The first appearance of his hubris in his narcissistic character shines through when he says "'Fra Pandolf' by design" line 6 , where he is mentioning the well-known painter's name in… "My Last Duchess" By Robert Browning Robert Browning is known as the Master of Psychological dramatic monologue. Within the last 200 years, we have seen two World Wars and countless disputes over false borders created by colonialists, slavery, and every horrid form of human suffering imaginable!! His most salient peculiarity is the pride of mere possession of a masterpiece which Browning felt to be a phase of the decadent renaissance. Rather than explain to her that he wants her to appreciate his gifts to her more than anyone else's, which he considers to be beneath him, he "gave commands" which led to her death. It provides an opportunity for the poets to use powerful words spoken through their characters.
Dramatic Monologue In My Last Duchess By Robert Browning
This change in dialogue emphasizes the importance of his lack of control over his late wife held to him, an emphasis of his pride and pursuit of control. When the duke speaks of the 'officious fool' who brought the cherries and when he says "all, smiles stopped together", then the envoy looks at him with a fearful question in his eyes, but the duke's face immediately resumes its mask of complacency. Why did Browning Write My Last Duchess? My Last Duchess 464 Words 2 Pages "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is a poem being told by a Duke who did everything he could to have control in every aspect of his life including politically and socially. We feel that no other circumstances could have prompted a more vivid revelation. Naturally his mind must have gone back to his last Duchess and the nature of his relationship with her. She thanked men:-good; but thanked Somehow…. Browning's careful word choice adds to the description of the Duchess and perhaps her disgraceful behavior, as well as the Duke's terrifying jealousy, and expectations.
My Last Duchess Dramatic Monologue
The Duke comments on his wealth, tries to justify and objectifies the Duchess anew, as the poem is set in a patriarchal society. In other words, he seems to have had her killed so that he could marry again. Browning uses different structural techniques in both poems to portray each character; there are contrasting rhyme schemes and meters to capture their complex mentality. Browning adopts numerous narrative techniques. The Duke felt that he should be able to control his wife and overpower her. She smiled on her husband she was her property, and that was right ; she smiled on others, and that was a violation of the rights of property which this dealer in human souls could not brook, so he "gave commands", —"then all smiles stopped together".
