My Last Duchess

• Who is the poet of My Last Duchess?

  Robert Browning
• What are the main themes of My Last Duchess?

  • Power of humans
  • memory
  • negative emotions - pride, jealousy
  • individual experiences
• Structure?

  • the poem is framed by the visit to the dukes gallery, but the duke gets caught up in talking about the duchess instead of just describing the art.
  • The poem builds towards a kind of confession, before the identity of the visitor is revealed, the duke moves on to talking about another artwork.
• Form?

  • The poem is a dramatic monologue written in iambic pentameter - this reinforces the impression that the duke is in a conversation with his visitor.
  • The rhyming couplets show the dukes desire for control but the enjambment suggests that he gets carried away with his anger and passions. - this creates a picture of a somewhat unstable character whose obsession with power is unsettling.
• Context - what is the poem about?

  • the duke proudly points out the portrait of the duchess to a visitor.

  • the duke was angered by the duchess’s behaviour- she was friendly towards everyone and he was annoyed that she treated him the same as anyone else.

  • he acted to stop the duchess’s flirtatious behaviour, but he doesn’t say how - strong hints of murder.

  • the duke and his guests walk away from, the painting and the reader discovers that the dukes visitor has come to arrange the dukes next marriage.
• Language - Power & Objectification

  • The duke felt the need to have power and control over the duchess.
  • He saw her as another of his possession, to be collected and admired like his expensive artworks.
• Language - dramatic irony

  • The things the duke says about the Duchess seem quite innocent, but they often have more sinister meanings for the reader.
  • There’s a gap between what the duke tells his listener, and what the poet allows us to read between the lines.
• Language - status

  • Status is really important to the duke
  • He cares about how others see him