My Last Duchess Flashcards
“That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall”
My - possessive - his possession of the painting mirrors his desperation to have controlled her when she was alive.
Last - there’s going to be another - patriarchal marriages = he had no personal connection to her.
Duchess - unnamed - the Duke believes that her only importance is that she married into his wealth and earned his title.
He only admires the painting itself not the fact that it is of his wife, showing his focus on materialistic value rather than sentimentality.
“as if she were alive”
Emphasises how well the painter has done his job - suggests the Duke viewing the subject of his wife’s death as art.
Sets a sinister tone, since she’s dead - she’s haunting him?
“Fra Pandolf” - repeated
Boastful of the nature of the poem and demonstrating his wealth - once again reducing the worth of the painting to simply a possession, a collector’s item, rather than a sentimental reminder of his late wife.
“Will’t you please sit and look at her?”
In the form of a painting the Duke can control who looks at her, who admires her - we see his anger and jealousy later on as he found it irritating that she was flirtatious and amiable - but now he decides.
“depth and passion”
Elements of the painting reflect the Duchess’ qualities - she has a strength of character which Patriarchal men would’ve been angered by as she is independent and capable/admirable.
“The curtain I have drawn for you”
Usually keeps it hidden - could indicate that he doesn’t like being reminded of her due to annoyance + once again he has control over who can see her - trying to convince himself of his power.
“not her husband’s presence only, called that spot of joy”
He’s angered by the fact that she enjoys her life and other things beside him. Clearly she’s a happy, vibrant person which he’s jealous of. He believes it is only appropriate that he was the only person who brought her happiness.
“too soon made glad, too easily impressed”
Although these are positive qualities that meant she was happy, he finds it excessive that she enjoys simple things in her life.
“her looks went everywhere”
1) Accusing her of being too flirtatious when she was just friendly and made good impressions on people - she got along with people other than him.
2) She’s open eyed and intellectual, which makes her hard to oppress or control - she’s wise.
3) She’s discerning.
“Ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift”
Hyphenated to emphasise the worth and significance of his title (gift) - he believed that he blessed her by marrying her - egoistic.
Shows that he holds status within society and feels ownership towards his wife since she shared his name.
“here you miss, or there exceed the mark”
judges his wife through patriarchal values -
shows the precision of his expectations - it’s almost like a test - he will never be satisfied with her because he wanted to make her into a different person.
He wants to teach her, make her his own, and control her - he feels that he has more intelligence and ability than her.
“she smiled no doubt(…)but who passed without much the same smile?”
Tone here is showing his anger - sarcastic. He’s undermining the value of his kindness - intentionally turns good qualities into something bad in order to judge her - he’ll always be unsatisfied.
“I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together.”
Euphemism for her murder - indirect way of hinting at the fact that he had her killed - shows the power and mercilessness he has.
Murderous = lack of control - hysterical.
Sibilance = unnerving and sinister.
He gave the command although didn’t kill her himself - he’s weak and can’t do his own dirty work.
Reference to his potential new wive’s dowry
HInts that the Duke’s only intentions into marriage is to inherit her dowry - greedy and ill-intentioned.
“Notice Neptune”
Pointing out another art piece he owns - proves that he shows the same degree of admiration for many things he owns - once again reducing importance of the Duchess’ painting - nothing but a painting in his collection.
