My Last Duchess
Robert Browning's poem "My last Duchess" is spoken from the perspective of the Duke and conveys the Dukes personality through the literary form of a dramatic monologue. It involves a fictional account of the Duke addressing an envoy from the Count to talk of details for the hopeful marriage to the Count's daughter. The subtitle of this monologue is "Ferrara," which suggests an historical reference to Alfonso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara in Italy in the mid-sixteenth century. The objective of the Duke is to attempt to sway the envoy's opinion of himself to obtain the maximum dowry possible in pursuit of this marriage. The reader is directed to imagine the Duke walking with the envoy through his art gallery and the Duke stops to show him a painting of his last Duchess that is presently covered by a curtain. "Since none puts by / the curtain I have drawn for you, but I" (9-10). This curtain is the first reference to the Dukes selfish, jealous, and protective traits. The Duke uses the curtain as a method of controlling his wife, even after her death. Other men admiring her beauty was unacceptable, so by hiding the painting behind a curtain, he controls who is allowed to gaze upon her. "Sir, 'twas not
The bough of cherries some officious fool Would draw from her alike the approving speech, The Duke assumes that Fra Pandolf was most likely flirting with the Duchess and that she was flirting back with him. This demonstrates that the Duke was extremely jealous and could not stand to have his wife admired by other men. Half-flush that dies along her throat." (16-19) Over my lady's wrist too much,' or 'Paint
Some common words found in the essay are:
Duke Duchess, Notice Neptune, Ferrara Italy, Fra Pandolf, Duke Counts, Robert Browning's, Duchess Duke, Alfonso II, jealous protective, assumes fra pandolf, selfish jealous protective, traits duke, wife control, duke mentions, fra pandolf, assumes fra, duke represents, sea horse, selfish jealous, duke assumes,
Approximate Word count = 1219
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
