My Last Duchess
One of the greatest Victorian poets and masters of the dramatic monologue, Robert Browning was born in London on the seventh of May in 1812. His father was a clerk at the Bank of England and mostly educated Browning at home. He attended London University in 1828, but withdrew after his second term. After his first publication in 1833, Pauline: A Fragment of a Confession, he received little attention and only random criticism of his later works. It was not until 1869 when The Ring and the Book was published that he received recognition and began to build his reputation. Prior to his success, he married Elizabeth Browning against her father's wishes and stayed deeply devoted to her until her death in 1861. While married to Elizabeth, he lived in Florence, Italy, where he did some of his finest work. Nearly all of his companions and acquaintances considered him a sociable person and a gracious host, as he was well known for his dinner parties. Browning continued to publish volumes of poetry until his death on December the twelfth of 1889. Robert Browning is remembered for his mastery at capturing the essence and power of the dramatic monologue. Through symbolism, structure and technique, Browning cr
One of the essential techniques Browning uses is language. Through the format, word choice, and speech the intensity of the dramatic monologue is felt. Browning uses specific words to convey his tone and characterization. When the Duke refers to the "officious fool" (line 27) who brought the cherry branch to the Duchess, he initiates a time period and region. Those choices of words proves the Duke's arrogance and ego, but also shows his status in society. He was part of the aristocratic society in, which people were excepted to have a certain amount of pomposity. When the Duke talks of how the Duchess disgusts him that also implies explicit word choice to provide accurate characterization. Those lines grant a dramatic monologue to come alive and breath contempt for the character. "E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose never to stoop,(lines 42-43)" this choice of words shows how the character views himself. In his mind killing her was the only way of going about it, for if he asked her to change that would make him inferior and powerless. The language Browning uses in the monologue provides the historical background to become evident. It also allows the reader to make amends for the Duke's actions, beliefs and behaviors because of the period and culture. The language and specific words chosen give the dramatic monologue a realistic tone and sense of understanding for the era and the Duke. One could argue that the Duke was merely a product of his times and environment. When taking a psychological approach in interpreting and analysising the Duke many theories exist. One being he is insane or another is that he was conditioned by society to do everything in his power to fulfill himself without consequence. Another technique used to develop the monologue is by using the aside seen twice in the poem. The aside reaffirms the duke's arrogance and his ego is revealed. Also the sentence variety displayed gives another opening for interpretation of the Duke. "This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together.(line 45-46)" This line is filled with semi colons and brief, short phrases that deeply contrast his prior sentences that where lengthy and very elaborate. The sentence variety can also be viewed as symbolic of the events and characters. When he uses the long winded, detailed sentences he displays his arrogance and conceit. The short, choppy sentences could represent the shot lived life of the duchess that was taken in only moments. The format is very vital in developing the dramatic monologue. "My Last Duchess" is composed of rhyming couplets. Enjambment is also used throughout the poem to off set the rhyme scheme to therefore give a sense of natural speech. The format and language is necessary to elaborate the essence of "My Last Duchess" and without those techniques the dramatic monologue would lose some of its richness embodied by the dissection of the human mind and the penetration of thought.<
Some common words found in the essay are:
Duke Neptune, Count Duke, Symbols Duke's, Examples Duke, Claus Innsbruck, Count Tyrol, Furthermore Duke, Alfonso II, Robert Browning, Florence Italy, dramatic monologue, sea horse, throughout poem, alfonso ii, reasoning marrying, niece count, taming sea horse, cast bronze, lines poem, symbols represent, throughout monologue, marrying niece count, killings duke's greedy, scattered throughout poem, duke's arrogance ego,
Approximate Word count = 1998
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)
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