My last duchess duke analysis. My Last Duchess: Duke's Personality Analysis 2022-10-27

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The speaker in Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is the Duke of Ferrara, and the poem is a dramatic monologue in which the Duke reveals his attitudes and personality through his words and actions.

The Duke is presenting a portrait of his late wife, the Duchess, to an envoy from another noble family. As he speaks, it becomes clear that the Duke is a controlling and jealous man, and that he is not mourning the loss of his wife so much as he is annoyed that she did not behave in the way he wanted her to.

For example, the Duke describes the Duchess as having a "spot of joy" in her cheek, and he says that this "pleased" him. However, he also says that she "did not count/ Enough to be unmentioned." This suggests that the Duke was more concerned with the Duchess's appearance and demeanor than he was with her as a person.

Furthermore, the Duke's use of the word "command" when referring to the Duchess's smiles suggests that he believed he had the right to dictate her behavior. He says, "I gave commands;/ Then all smiles stopped together." This implies that the Duchess was not allowed to smile unless the Duke gave her permission to do so.

The Duke's jealousy and possessiveness are further revealed when he says that the Duchess "liked whate'er/ She looked on, and her looks went everywhere." This suggests that the Duke was suspicious of the Duchess's relationships with other people, and that he was threatened by her ability to find joy in the world around her.

Overall, the Duke in "My Last Duchess" is a narcissistic and abusive character who values control and appearance over genuine love and respect for his wife. His monologue reveals his shallow and manipulative nature, and the reader is left with a sense of disgust and horror at the Duke's treatment of the Duchess.

Analysis of the Robert Browning Poem 'My Last Duchess'

my last duchess duke analysis

The character of the Duke comes across powerfully as a typical member of the aristocracy of the Italian Renaissance. Critical analysis The themes Power Throughout the poem, the Duke gives ample instances of the enormous power he exercises. Thus the verdict of punishment against her crime — the sentence of death. . Comments by Glenn Everett A. Literature of the era, in circles both journalistic and literary, portrayed women as fragile creatures in need of a husband. The poem also abounds with enjambments, i.

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My Last Duchess Character Analysis

my last duchess duke analysis

In spite of the Duke's rather untrustworthy opinion of the Duchess, we can infer a number of physical and other attributes from what he says about her. It was the hub of culture during the Italian Renaissance. She had A heart — how shall I say? The basic facts of which we can be certain are that she was married to the Duke, that she was young and probably beautiful, that she died, and that the Duke is negotiating for a second wife. Jealousy The Duke demands undivided attention from his duchess and her failure to do so turn him green with absurd jealousy. He says that it was not only his presence that made her glad. As suggested by the character heading at the beginning of the speech, the speaker's name is Ferrara. Advertisements The other characters mentioned in the poem — the painter Fra Pandolf and the sculptor, Claus of Innsbruck — are fictional.

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My Last Duchess Analysis Essay

my last duchess duke analysis

Instead, he exact his chosen punishment; death. According to the Duke, his wife had no discrimination in her smile too. In a dramatic monologue, the speaker unknowingly reveals his personality through his speech. Browning was super influential with his monologues during the Victorian period and even Robert Browning and the Dramatic Monologue Gabrielle Stith Denton English 12-2 May 13, 2004 Robert Browning and the Dramatic Monologue Controlling Purpose: to analyze selected works of Robert Browning. The crime of his wife was to flirt with other men, a small crime for such a huge, permanent punishment. Artist Fra Pandolf painted it beautifully and the Duchess looks alive in the picture. The Duke says that the master of the envoy, i.


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My Last Duchess Summary & Analysis

my last duchess duke analysis

The story is about a Duke who decides to remove his wife from his life out of paranoia and jealousy, by murdering her. But his underlying motives shine through and we see the Duke as jealous and possessive. Living — he failed to control the essence of her free radiant soul; dead — he had absolute authority over her life-like likeness. I call That piece a wonder, now; The speaker of the poem draws our attention to the portrait of his last Duchess hanging on the wall. The Duke then shows the listener the statue of Neptune taming the sea horse that was made for him.

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My Last Duchess Analysis

my last duchess duke analysis

She thought such trivial remarks were courtesy and reason enough to make her happy. It looks like our guest is trying to get away from the Duke as quickly as he can. He could not make his intentions will clear to his former wife. The Duke then sought to remarry, nd this time, his proposed fiancée was the sister of the count of Tyrol, Barbara. The Dukes words also showed that he liked to have control over others. She had A heart — how shall I say? The poem deals with the theme of male and female relationships and their contrasting powers or lack of it.

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What is the analysis of the character of the Duchess in "My Last Duchess"?

my last duchess duke analysis

A deeper analysis of some of their works displays particular similarities and distinct differences that make each one of them unique. And even if he was able, he probably would not because this would injure his ego even more. Also, he being the only man to draw the curtain may suggest his possessiveness. Another device I noticed is that Browning uses enjambment, this gives the poem rhythm and flow. Browning uses different structural techniques in both poems to portray each character; there are contrasting rhyme schemes and meters to capture their complex mentality.

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“My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning: A Detailed Analysis

my last duchess duke analysis

The painting is once again a reminder that he is in control of her life. The Duchess's Character What the painting captures appears to be a watered-down version of the Duchess's joyfulness. Tone The tone of the poem is one of arrogance that is carefully hidden by a falsely polite gesture. Now we discover the identity of the silent listener. He simply moves onto the next object of his affections. When he discusses the painting, he mentions her blushing 'spot of joy' not only because he was there but also because of a remark the painter, Fra Pandolf, made while executing his task. Even if she did not speak, she would at least blush at everything and anything.

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My Last Duchess: Duke's Personality Analysis essay

my last duchess duke analysis

The heinous felony of killing her is oversimplified and stated as a commonplace bland fact. However,because he saw this as a threat to him, the narrator becomes enraged and decides to do away with her, permanently. My favor at her breast, The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule She rode with round the terrace — all and each Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. A total of thirty-six line-enjambs are there. She looked at everything and was easily captivated by whatever she saw.

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