My Last Duchess Flashcards
Context
Browning was a British poet and lived in Italy. The poem was published in 1842
Browning may have been inspired by the story of an Italian Duke (Duke of Ferrara): his wife died in suspicious circumstances and it was rumored that she had been poisoned
Form and Structure
Dramatic Monologue, in iambic pentameter
It is speech, pretending to be conversation, he doesnt allow the other person to speak!
Enjambment: rambling tone, hes getting carried away with his anger. He is a little unstable
Heavy use of caesura (commas and dashes): stuttering effects show his fustration and anger: “She thanked men, good! but thanked / Somehow, I know not how”
Dramatic Irony: the reader can read between the lines and see that the Dukes comments have a much more sinister undertone
Language
“Looking as if she was alive” : sets a sinister tone
“Wiillt please you sit and look at her?” rhetorical question to his visitor shows obsession with power
“she liked whater / She looked on, and her looks went everywhere” : hints that his wife was a flirt
“as if she ranked / My gift of a nine hundred years old name / With anybodys gift” : she was beneath him in status, and yet dared to rebel against his authority
“I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together” : euphemism for his wifes murder
“Notice Neptune, though / Taming a sea horse” : he points out another painting, also about control
Context, Meaning and Purpose
The Duke is showing a visitor around his large art collection and proudly points out a portrait of his last wife, who is now dead. He reveals that he was annoyed by her over friendly and flirtatious behaviour.
He can finally control her by objectifying her and her portrait to visitors when he chooses
he is now alone as a result of his need for control
