mld

• 1. poem present arrogance of men in power trying to retain power through objects

  • they can never fully have power
• 2. presents himself as superior

  • "Fra Pandolf" "Claus of Innsbruck"
  • "my gift of a nine hundred year old name"
  • " i chose never to stoop"
• 3. he never truly had control

  • "the faint half flush that dies along her throat"
  • painting as extended metaphor
• • the painting is used an an extended metaphor to present his need for absolute power
  • he objectifies his wife as a means of control - he only saw value in her appearance
  • it is ironic - he can only control her when she is dead, but sees himself with a God-complex
• "the faint half flush that dies along her throat"

  • blushing was attributed to virgins
  • blush dies to show she became too familiar his men
  • he could not control her relationships