My Last Duchess

• "my Last Duchess painted on the wall"

  • my = possessive of the person, not just the painting
  • painted = peaceful tone at first
• "none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you"

  • none = controls the painting yet couldn't control her
  • curtain = metaphorical: he took away her power when he wanted to
• "too soon made glad, too easily impressed"

  • glad = annoyed she was friendly to others
  • too easily impressed = building an excuse for her murder??
• "I gave commands, then all smiles stopped together"

  • gave commands = ordered someone else to kill her, speaker is weak
  • smiles stopped = sibillance: sinister tone, repeated hint for murder
• "Notice Neptune though // taming a seahorse"

  • Symbolism: Neptune = Duke of Ferrara, Seahorse = his next wife being shown how she is expected to behave
  • Notice = returns focus to his wealth