My Last Duchess

• My last duchess is a dramatic monologue and shows the dukes steam of consciousness
• My last duchess is single verse showing the power of the duke
• My last duchess contains a political message that is disguised by using a different era and country to uphold Robert Browning's reputation and make the reader more accepting of the message
• The Duke of Ferrara was also known as Alfonzo ii who's first wife died under mysterious conditions and he went on to have many other wives later
• The opening of the poem

  " That's my last duchess painted on the wall "

  • Repetition of possessive pronoun
• The duke killing the duchess

  " I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together "

  • Euphemism
• The duke condemning his wife for liking nature and he views himself as god

  " Notice Neptune ... thought a rarity "

  • Metaphor