My last duchess

Question 1

what is the context for My last duchess ?

Answer 1

• Robert Browning: Born in London, lived in Italy, and was known for his interest in language, writing poetry from a young age, and his secret marriage to Elizabeth Barrett, which reflects themes of rebellion and control similar to those in the poem.
• The Setting: The poem is set in Ferrara, Italy, during the Italian Renaissance, referencing a historical figure (Duke Alfonso II d’Este), whose life influenced the Duke in the poem.
• Industrial Revolution and Victorian Britain: The poem was written during the Industrial Revolution, a time of increasing calls for women’s rights, highlighting patriarchal societal norms and the subjugation of women.
• Morality and Sexuality in the Victorian Era: Victorian society had strict views on morality, modesty, and sexuality, with women seen as property whose status was determined by their marriage to men.
• Art and Power: The Duke’s obsession with art and controlling the image of his late wife reflects the broader theme of male dominance over women, where the Duke controls how his wife is remembered even in death.
• Conflict in the Poem: The conflict in the poem centers on the Duke’s desire for control over his wife, which leads to her death as a result of his inability to maintain authority over her, symbolizing abuse of power.

Question 2

what was the perspective in may last duchess and how was it used for effect ?

Answer 2

• Persona Poem: The poem is written as a persona poem with the Duke of Ferrara as the speaker, allowing Browning to explore broader societal themes like power and control.
• First Person Narrative: The first-person narration gives the Duke control over the narrative, reflecting his dominance over others and possibly presenting a biased account of events, mirroring how power influences what is shared or hidden.
• Dramatic Monologue: The dramatic monologue format highlights the Duke’s domineering nature, as he monopolizes the conversation and controls the information the reader receives, revealing his controlling character.
• Reader’s Role: The dramatic monologue forces the reader to decipher the truth, making them aware that the Duke’s account may be exaggerated or false, requiring careful interpretation.
• No Female Perspective: The lack of the female voice in the poem reflects the silencing of women in Victorian society, where women had no political power or rights, highlighting gender inequality.
• Critique of Power Inequality: Browning uses the Duke’s abuse of power to critique the unequal distribution of power in society, specifically addressing the oppression of women and their exclusion from authority

Question 3

‘my last duchess’ - my last duchess - power and dominance

Answer 3

• Possession: The phrase “my last Duchess” uses the possessive pronoun “my,” highlighting the Duke’s view of his wife as an object he owns rather than an equal partner, implying a sense of entitlement and control.
• Power and Control: The term “last” suggests that the Duchess is replaceable, reinforcing the Duke’s belief that he has the power to dispose of or control his wife at will, a symbol of his dominance in the relationship.
• Objectification: The use of “my” reduces the Duchess to an object of the Duke’s possession, indicating his lack of emotional connection and his tendency to view people—especially women—as things to be controlled and managed.
• Implied Threat: The word “last” subtly implies that the Duchess is no longer alive, suggesting the Duke’s potential role in her death, which indicates his ability to control her fate through his oppressive actions.

Question 4

how is iambic pentameter in My last duchess used for effect ?

Answer 4

• Traditional Views: The use of iambic pentameter highlights the Duke’s adherence to traditional values, particularly his outdated and rigid views on women, which reflects the historical setting of the poem.
• Control and Superiority: The strict structure of iambic pentameter mirrors the Duke’s sense of control and superiority, as the tight rhythm and rhyme reflect his desire to dominate his environment and conversations, even in his speech.
• Sense of Nobility: The use of iambic pentameter, a meter associated with Shakespeare and noble characters, suggests that the Duke sees himself as part of the upper class and a figure of authority, reinforcing his sense of self-importance and power.
• Conversational yet Dramatic: Despite its strict structure, iambic pentameter maintains a conversational tone, allowing the Duke to appear casual while still conveying his underlying arrogance and authority, creating a balance between natural speech and formal, dramatic expression.

Question 5

how is single verse/no stanzas in My last duchess used ofr effect ?

Answer 5

• Overwhelming Power: The single verse structure mirrors the overwhelming presence of the Duke, suggesting that his power dominates not only the room but also the poem itself, making it feel unrelenting and exhausting.
• Lack of Consequences: The uninterrupted flow of the poem reflects the Duke’s belief that he can act without consequence, specifically in his mistreatment of the Duchess, as his power ensures he faces no repercussions for his actions.
• One-Sided View: The continuous, single verse structure reinforces that only the Duke’s perspective is presented, with no room for the Duchess’s voice or any defense of her actions, highlighting the patriarchal dominance in both the Duke’s world and the poem.
• Patriarchal Society: The absence of stanzas reflects the societal context in which the Duke’s viewpoint is central, just as women in the patriarchal society of the poem have their voices silenced and are viewed only through male perspectives.
• Stream of Consciousness: The lack of stanzas also creates a feeling of a stream of consciousness, suggesting the Duke’s unfiltered, constant thoughts, and emotions, revealing his lack of self-control and showing how he compensates for this by trying to assert control over others.
• Lack of Self-Control: The unbroken flow of the verse suggests the Duke’s inability to control his emotions, even as he maintains control over others, making it clear that his control is external rather than internal, which highlights his vulnerability in the face of his own emotions

Question 6

how is enjambment in My last duchess used for effect ?

Answer 6

• Natural Conversation: The use of enjambment creates a conversational tone, making the Duke’s speech feel more fluid and less rigid, as though he is speaking freely without careful planning, which makes the reader feel more immersed in his perspective.
• Weakness and Unbalance: The enjambment also reflects the Duke’s emotional instability, suggesting that he is not in full control of his thoughts or words. His rambling, uncontrolled speech reveals a deeper inner conflict and lack of self-restraint.
• Sidetracked and Distracted: The interruption of thought through dashes and parentheses (“- how shall I say? -“) shows that the Duke’s mind is disorganized. This lack of focus demonstrates his inability to control the flow of his speech, hinting at his frustration and emotional volatility.
• Conversational Tone: The enjambment contributes to a more natural, almost casual tone, which contrasts with the sinister subject matter. This technique makes his monologue feel more personal, inviting the reader to engage with his biases and perspectives directly.
• Lack of Control: The frequent interruptions in speech and use of punctuation like dashes suggest that the Duke is overcome by his emotions, particularly anger or resentment. This shows his inability to maintain control over his speech, despite his dominance in other areas of his life.
• Power Dynamics: While the Duke shows a lack of control over his speech, this lack of control is paradoxically linked to his sense of power over others. His inability to control his emotions and thoughts contrasts with his overwhelming control over his wife and her fate, highlighting the imbalance in his power.

Question 7

how is caesura in My last duchess used for effect ?

Answer 7

• Disrupted Rhythm: Caesura disrupts the flow of speech, mimicking the Duke’s disorganized and erratic thought process.
• Unpleasant to Listen To: The fragmented speech created by caesura makes the Duke’s monologue uncomfortable, reflecting his oppressive control.
• Sign of Pride and Self-Obsession: The interruptions in his speech highlight the Duke’s self-centeredness and pride, emphasizing his arrogance.
• Stuttering and Lack of Confidence: The caesura implies hesitation or stuttering, suggesting the Duke lacks true self-confidence.
• Rambling Speech: Frequent interruptions create a rambling, unstructured tone, showing the Duke’s inability to communicate effectively.
• Artificial Authority: The disjointed speech reflects the artificial nature of the Duke’s power, which is imposed rather than natural.

Question 8

How does Browning’s use of simplistic language reflect the Duke’s character ?

Answer 8

• Conversational Tone: The simple language creates a more natural, conversational feel, making the Duke seem more relatable and less formal.
• Lack of Imagery: The absence of elaborate imagery reflects the Duke’s utilitarian and straightforward way of asserting his power, focusing only on conveying dominance.
• Emphasis on Power: The simplicity of the language reinforces the Duke’s desire to communicate his control and authority clearly, without any poetic embellishment.
• Realism: The plain language contributes to the realism of the poem, making the Duke’s speech feel authentic and believable, as if he’s speaking directly to the listener.
• Focus on Key Moments: By using fewer literary devices, Browning draws attention to the moments when the Duke does employ them, making those instances more impactful.
• Unadorned Control: The straightforwardness of the Duke’s language further emphasizes his desire for control over the conversation, limiting emotional expression.

Question 9

How does Browning use the image of the Duchess as a painting to convey the Duke’s views on women?

Answer 9

• Objectification: The Duke’s portrayal of the Duchess as a painting demonstrates her objectification—she is no longer a person but a piece of art, something to be admired and controlled.
• Control over Memory: The line “none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you but I” suggests the Duke’s control over the Duchess extends beyond her life, even dictating who can view her image after death.
• Possession: The Duke sees the Duchess as a possession, not as an individual, and his control over the painting parallels his control over her life and memory.
• Jealousy: The reference to the curtain could indicate his jealousy, implying that he doesn’t want anyone else to admire or possess what is “his.”
• Unchallenged Authority: The use of the possessive pronoun “I” emphasizes the Duke’s complete authority over the Duchess, both in life and death.
• Dismissing her individuality: By describing her as a painting, the Duke strips the Duchess of her individuality, reducing her to something static and unchangeable.

Question 10

How does the statue of Neptune serve as a metaphor for the Duke’s treatment of his wives?

Answer 10

• Seamless Transition: The Duke’s quick transition from discussing the Duchess to his new wife, and from the portrait to the statue, shows how disposable he finds women, demonstrating that they are interchangeable possessions.
• Taming Metaphor: The statue of Neptune “taming a sea-horse” is a metaphor for the Duke’s treatment of women—he seeks to control and domesticate them, just as Neptune tames the wild sea-horse.
• Power Dynamics: The Duke’s reference to the statue reflects his belief in his power over women, seeing them as figures to be sculpted into submission, rather than equal partners.
• Warning to New Wife: The Duke’s final reference to the statue may serve as a warning to his new wife, signaling that he expects her to be tamed and controlled just like his last Duchess.
• Transformation: The image of Neptune turning the sea-horse into something subjugated mirrors the Duke’s attempt to transform his wives into passive, compliant figures under his rule.
• Status and Control: The statue, like the portrait, signifies possession and control, highlighting the Duke’s need to dominate and possess even the memory of his deceased wife.

Question 11

‘My gift of a nine-hundred-year-old name’ - My last duchess -

Answer 11

• Patriarchal Control: The Duke’s reference to his family name as a “gift” highlights the control he exerts over the Duchess, as her status is entirely linked to him and his family. This reflects the patriarchal view that women gain value and status through their husbands.
• Pride in Lineage: The Duke takes immense pride in his aristocratic background, viewing the family name as a possession that defines him and his power. By calling it a “gift,” he emphasizes the significance of his legacy, reinforcing his belief in his superiority.
• Objectification of the Duchess: The idea that the Duchess has received this “gift” implies she has no identity of her own beyond her connection to the Duke. She is reduced to a mere possession, her value determined by her association with his name, rather than her own personal qualities or achievements.
• Power Dynamics: The phrase reveals the Duke’s sense of entitlement and ownership over the Duchess. The “gift” is not one of love or affection but of power, reinforcing the unequal power dynamics in their relationship.
• Reflection of Society: This quote reflects the broader social context of the Victorian and Renaissance eras, where women were often seen as objects to be traded in marriage, their worth tied to their husband’s status.