My last duchess

Robert Browning
My Last Duchess
-Robert Browning
My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning : dramatic monologue in which a man speaks to an emissary about his former wife, who he believes was unfaithful to
him. The poem explores themes of power, jealousy, and control, as the speaker reveals his possessive nature and his willingness to use violence to maintain
his authority."My Last Duchess" is a poem by Robert Browning that tells the story of a Duke who is showing a visitor his collection of art and describes his
former wife, the Duchess. The Duke reveals that he had the Duchess killed because she was too flirtatious and he wanted complete control over her.

Key points of the poem include:

- The Duke's obsession with power and control.
- The use of visual imagery, particularly the painting of the Duchess, to highlight the Duke's insecurity and possessiveness.
- The Duke's twisted justification for having the Duchess killed.
- The theme of male dominance and suppression of women.
- The portrayal of the Duchess as a victim of the Duke's toxic masculinity.

1. What is the theme of the poem? What is the author trying to convey to the reader through the poem?
- Theme: Destructive nature of power and distorted perception of love
- Those with power and wealth often become obsessed with controlling and possessing their partners
- Distorted view of love as something to be possessed and controlled
- Duke's possessive behavior leads to the duchess's demise
- Illustrates destructive consequences of such behavior
- Explores theme of art and its power in representing reality and revealing inner thoughts and emotions of characters.

2. What is the tone of the poem?

- Tone of the poem is arrogant, jealous, and controlling
- Duke speaks with a sense of entitlement and superiority
- Believes he has the right to possess and control his wife, the Duchess
- Displays pride in his own power and wealth
- Uses his power to exert control over his surroundings
- Overall tone is one of dominance and an unhealthy obsession with power

3. What is the structure of the poem? Does it have a rhyme scheme or a certain meter? How does the structure contribute to the meaning of the poem?
- The poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is written in rhyming couplets and iambic pentameter
- The rhyme scheme is AABB, which means that every two lines rhyme with each other
- The structure of the poem allows the speaker to tell the story of his deceased wife in a controlled manner, emphasizing his desire for power and control
- The iambic pentameter contributes to the sense of control, as the strict meter creates a sense of order and discipline
- The structure of the poem emphasizes the theme of power and control, highlighting the speaker's desire to dominate both his wife and the listener.
4. Who is the speaker of the poem? Is it the author themselves, or a fictional character?
- The poem "My Last Duchess" is written by Robert Browning.
- The speaker of the poem is a fictional character, a Duke from Renaissance Italy.
- The Duke is reflecting on the portrait of his deceased wife.
- The character of the Duke and his thoughts are created by the author.

5. What is the imagery used in the poem? How does it contribute to the overall meaning?-
The imagery in "My Last Duchess" is visual and mainly focuses on the painting of the Duchess
- The Duke describes the Duchess as having a "spot of joy" and a heart on her breast
- The painting also shows her holding a branch of cherries, which the Duke interprets as evidence of her infidelity
- The statue of Neptune taming a sea-horse serves as a metaphor for the Duke's power and control over his wife
- The use of visual imagery creates a vivid picture of the Duchess and highlights the Duke's obsession with her appearance and desire to control it
- The imagery contributes to the theme of power and control and the ways in which men dominate and suppress women
- The painting of the Duchess becomes a symbol of the Duke's power and control over her even in death

6. What is the symbolism in the poem? Are there any recurring symbols or metaphors that add depth to the meaning?
There are a few recurring symbols and metaphors in the poem "My Last Duchess" that add depth to its meaning. All of these symbols and metaphors highlight the
theme of power and control in the poem. They emphasise the Duke's desire to dominate and possess his wife, as well as his belief that he has the right to do so.

The portrait of the Duke's last duchess symbolises her beauty, but also her death. The painting, which the Duke keeps behind a curtain, is a
representation of his power over her and his desire to control her even after her death.

The Duke's ownership of the painting also symbolises his ownership of his wife. He refers to her as "my" last duchess multiple times throughout the
poem, suggesting that she was merely a possession to him.

The Duke's use of the word "commands" when referring to his wife's smile is a metaphor for his desire to control every aspect of her life, including her
emotions.

The statue of Neptune taming a sea-horse is a metaphor for the Duke's desire to control and tame his wife, much like Neptune tames the sea-horse.

7. What is the historical or cultural context of the poem? How does this context contribute to the understanding of the poem?
- "My Last Duchess" written by Robert Browning in 1842
- Set in Renaissance Italy
- Historical and cultural context important for understanding themes of power, control, and gender roles
- During Renaissance, arranged marriages common for alliances and wealth
- Women expected to be subservient to husbands and viewed as possessions
- Duke in poem represents patriarchal mindset, seeing wife as possession rather than equal partner
- Renaissance period marked by artistic and cultural achievement, Duke's love of art and desire for control reflects importance of status and reputation
- Historical and cultural context highlights gendered power dynamics and societal expectations of the time period
- Contributes to deeper understanding of themes and motivations present in "My Last Duchess."
8. What are the literary devices used in the poem? Are there any examples of alliteration, assonance, or personification?
There are several literary devices used in "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning.These literary devices help to create the atmosphere and mood of the poem, and also to convey the Duke's
character and motivations. Some examples include:

Dramatic Monologue: The poem is written as a dramatic monologue, where the Duke is the sole speaker. This allows the reader to see the events of the poem from his perspective only, and
not from the perspective of the Duchess or any other character.

Enjambment: The poem contains several instances of enjambment, where a sentence or phrase runs over into the next line without a pause. For example, in lines 11-12, "She rode with
round the terrace—all and each / Would draw from her alike the approving speech."

Alliteration: There are several examples of alliteration in the poem, where the same consonant sound is repeated at the beginning of words. For
example, in line 8, "Notice Neptune, though, / Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity," the "n" sound is repeated.

Assonance: There are also examples of assonance in the poem, where the same vowel sound is repeated. For example, in lines 17-18, "Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, / Whene'er I passed her;
but who passed without / Much the same smile?"

Personification: The Duke personifies the painting of his Duchess, speaking to it as if it were his wife herself. For example, in lines 2-3, "Looking as if she were alive. I call / That piece a
wonder, now."