In the poem 'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning, the speaker, or the Duke, develops distinct tones when he speaks in remembrance of his last Duchess' portrait, which hangs from the wall in his gallery. The tone of the Duke portrays his different emotions towards his ex-wife, as he converses with a silent male auditor. In the poem, the Duke speaks about the Duchess with a bitter tone. For instance, he states that the Duchess is "too easily impressed; she liked whate'er she looked on." This quote implies that when the Duchess was alive, she accepted flirtations from different men, and her eyes went everywhere instead of remaining only on her husband. The caustic approach of the Duke towards this thought reveals that the Duke is an envious man.
In "My Last Duchess," the speaker describes a specific painting to the reader. It is a portrait of the Duke's late wife. The speaker directs the reader's attention to the Duchess's passionate responses given not only to the Duke, but also to many other men who admire her beauty. The artist conveys this lady's charming and flirtatious personality. The Duchess had many admirers that competed for her attention. Her rare beauty and flirtatious manner attracted many admirers. Her facial features express her passion and gratitude towards the men that competed for her attention. She had a teasing and playful quality, which she used to make the Duke jealous of the men attracted to her beauty. The Duke spoke communicated his displeasure about her improper behavior. She continued to smile and attract the attention of
indicates that the Duke is in a state of mind where he sees himself as
the personality of his duchess, he is shown to be a heartless, arrogant man. His complete
“My Last Duchess,” by Robert Browning, depicts powerful husbands attempting to control the actions of their wives as they are free to do as they please. In contrast, women are expected to be faithful and attentive only to their husbands. The power and control of the Duke is conveyed by a painting of the Duchess. It belongs to the Duke and is referred to as “my last Duchess” (1). The use of “my” demonstrates the possessive nature of the Duke and his claim of the Duchess as his own personal possession, much like the painting itself. As the Duke persists on forcing domination upon the Duchess, he is greatly displeased to find that she treats and considers him as the same value as nearly any other man.
In Robert Browning’s poem, My Last Duchess, is about a conversation surrounding a portrait. The focus swirls around the untimely death of the duchess, Alfonso II last wife, because of some impropriety. She looks alive, and the duke attributes this to the skill of the painter, Frà Pandolf. This serves to remind the reader that the duke does not approve of the way the duchess handled herself. Evidently, the duke does not approve of the zest for life that the duchess exhibited. He of course compliments her beauty,
In "My Last Duchess", by Robert Browning, the character of Duke is portrayed as having controlling, jealous, and arrogant traits. These traits are not all mentioned verbally, but mainly through his actions. In the beginning of the poem the painting of the Dukes wife is introduced to us: "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,/ looking as of she were still alive" (1-2). These lines leave us with the suspicion that the Duchess is no longer alive, but at this point were are not totally sure. In this essay I will discuss the Dukes controlling, jealous and arrogant traits he possesses through out the poem.
Written by Robert Browning, “My Last Duchess” is a poem about an egocentric Duke who has a painting of his last wife upon the wall and is trying to impress an ambassador who is negotiating his next marriage. Although it is obvious that the Duke is trying to persuade this ambassador, however, this is where the first mystery is created. It is almost as if he is trying to persuade no one more than himself.
Browning wrote, “And you to turn and ask me, if they durst, how such a glace came there; so, not the first are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, t’was not her husband’s presence only, called that spot of joy into the Duchess’ cheek” (Lines 11-15). The Duchess was made happy to easy, “Was courtesy, she thought, and caused enough 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’ver she looked on, and her looks went everywhere” (Lines 20-24).
Response to Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” is an aesthetic monologue about the Duke of Ferrara’s painting of his late wife. The Duke is meeting with his potential new wife’s family to discuss his marrying the Count’s daughter. While giving a tour of his estate the Duke shows the family his painting of his late wife, the Duchess.
The speaker, the Duke, has a picture of his last Duchess which only he is allowed to pull the curtain to view. He spoke of her beauty comprehensively; from the “spot of joy into the Duchess’ cheek” to “her mantle lips” (Browning 14-16). The Duke enjoyed her beauty and kindness that she presented to him, but the only problem was that she gave it to everyone else. Her appreciation for everything, big or small, created the Duke’s pit of jealousy, and that ultimately led him to get rid of his Duchess. However, even after her conceivable death, she continues to live on through the well painted picture and his evocative description.
In “My Last Duchess,” The poet is clearly unhappy with his last Duchess, the tone is wheedling, reproachful admiration of the actual portrait of the woman, whom he adores—as art. The words, “MY last”, implicate that this is not the only duchess he had. If there were only one, he might have said, “My first’ duchess” He is not interested in mourning his previous wife, but extolling the beauty of the painting of her--while courting a new one. He explains that she was more than delighted to smile at other men, no differently than she did for him. She clearly upstaged him on several fronts, not being deferential to him, or to the name she took on with marriage to him.
In the poem, "My Last Duchess" is about, a Duke who collects portraits. He pulls back a curtain to reveal a portrait of his last duchess. It was painted by a monk and painter named Fra Pandolf. The duke tells the listener that his previous wife was too friendly. He doesnt approve the fact that she is easily impressed or happy.
The quote from the poem “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning describes the part toward the end where the Duke is talking to someone about what led to the death of his wife. Evidence supported by the quote itself, specifically the line “Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands: / Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands/ As if alive” (45-47), leads us to the conclusion that jealousy and arrogance got the best of the Duke, which made him give the orders to have his wife killed.
Everyone in life needs to feel like they are special and loved, and in the poem My Last Duchess by Robert Browning, the Duke of Ferrara is no exception. He uses his power not only to control who can love him, but also how they should. At the start of the poem the Duke is showing the servant of the Count, who’s daughter the Duke is going to marry, around his palace. In his gallery they stop at a painting that he unveils to be the portrait of his beautiful, young wife that passed (his last duchess).
The dramatic monologue “My Last Duchess” was penned down by Robert Browning. In this poem, the narrator is the Duke of Ferrara, and the listener is the count’s agent, through whom the Duke is arranging the proposed marriage to a second duchess. The poem is ironical and reveals its rhetorical sense, gradually. In the later part of the poem, the Duke claims that he does not have a skill in speech, but his monologue is a masterpiece of subtle rhetoric. While supposedly entertaining the listener by showing his wife’s portrait, he clearly reveals his character. Through his formalized tone of rhyme, he reveals his egoistic and jealous attitude.