My last duchess Flashcards
That’s ‘my’ Last Duchess painted on the wall
Possessive pronoun – is as he uses her as an object that owns her rather than as an individual
Since none put by the curtain, I have drawn for you but I
Parenthesis – controlling and domineering he likes to asserting his power over others
Spots of joy
Metaphor- Spot connotes a floor or blemish the Duke doesn’t like this aspect of the Duchess personality he doesn’t want others to give her Joy or pleasure
She had a heart too soon made Glad
Duke is jealous and possessive as he wants her to only be pleased by him and that she is too easily pleased by others
The dropping if daylight in the West, the bough of cherries some officious fool broke I’m the orchard for her, the white mule she rode
Listing of all the things that made the Duchess happy she gained happiness from simple things she’s not materialistic in contrast to his expensive gifts
Much the same smile?
Rhetorical question- Implies he is jealous that she treats Everybody to the same smile that she gives him he feels he is not unique or special to her at all and he should be as his husband
Will’t you please rise?
Caesura- The Duke is trying to move on the conversation away from any uncomfortable questions about how she died increase his read suspicion that he was involved in her death
What is the message of the poem?
Browning is critical of men like the Duke who regard women as objects and possessing control them. He reveals that insecurity and jealousy That lead men to the need to control their wives, even to the extent of murdering them to maintain their ego
