My Last Duchess

• who wrote my last duchess?

  • Robert Browning
  • Wrote it during the time of the industrial revolution when partiarcle attitudes in society where being critiqued by poets
• why did Browning set his poem in the past

  • It is loosley based off of an Italian Nobleman
  • In addition, perhaps Browning did not set the poem in the time he was living in order to shield his criticism of society so his attitudes where not as obvious
• when was MLD set?

  • renaissance period
• 'My gift of a 900 year old name'

  • Depicts the Duke's utter PRIDE and arrogance
  • Underscores his hubris about his family name, showign how important he believes himself to be
  • He believes his name is monumental and significant, reflectign his utter hubris and deeply rooted self pride
• 'who'd stoop to blame'

  • furthermore reflects his pride
  • shows that he believes that to argue with his wife was beneath him, underscoring his patriarchal and narcissistic attitudes as he views himself superior to women
• 'I gave commands, then all smiles stopped.'

  • 'all smiles stopped' - Ceasura used to allude to death and the end of the duchess' life
  • 'I gave commands' - The use of euphamistic language displays the duke's misuse of power as he ends his wife's life, but it also perhaps displays his cowardly behaviour due to his inability to commit this henious act himself, showing he dosent put the money where hsi mouth is fr
• what main method is used in MLD

  • Written in dramatic monologue form and Browning uses enjambement to connote the Duke's tendency to dominate conversations and oppress others around him by not letting them speak
  • Furthermore, it may also reflect the Duke's insecure nature as he feels it is his duty to not allow any other men comment on his wife's portrait as it could lead to her cheating
• 'will't please you sit and look at her'

  • Browning uses repetition of imperative verbs in order to present the Duke as controlling and dominant over his wife's portrait, to highlight the oppressive nature he holds against women
  • Browing reflects the patriarchal society we live in as