My last duchess

• The duke points out a portrait of his former wife in which he invites the implied listener to admire its lifelike quality. The duke hints that he had killed his wife and then discusses meeting the listener’s master - whose daughter the duke hopes to marry.
• At the time, many aristocrats commissioned great artists to create paintings and sculptures. Beauty of art was paid for by aristocrats who were just as capable of paying to have an enemy killed. This provides an interesting co-existence between art works of stunning beauty alongside moral and political corruption.
• “My gift of a nine hundred years old name” - this conveys the Duke’s arrogance about his title and position. Clearly he feels he should have been more respected by his wife. “My gift” as though she should have been eternally grateful that he married her.
• “notice Neptune… taming a seahorse” - all about control and power. Like Neptune ruling the sea and having control over an insignificant sea horse - a reminiscent of their marriage. The Duke likes to have power over people and beautiful objects therefore perhaps she will merely just another object to him.
• The Duke feels the Duchess did not value his status and class. She was also below him in status and because of this he found her behaviour even more insulting and disrespectful. He views himself as superior to all and believes he should be worshipped, especially by his wife. The connotations of then noun ‘gift’ are usually associated with something that would give the receiver happiness. However, here it seems sinister and something that would become unwanted. The Duchess could never meet the Duke’s relentless expectations and demands.
• The use of first person narrative gives the reader a clear insight and complete comprehension into the controlling and narcissistic nature of the Duke.
• Feelings and attitudes

  Pride - the Duke is proud of his possessions and his status

  Jealousy - he couldn’t stand the way the Duchess treated him the same way as everyone else.

  Power - the Duke enjoys the control he has over the painting - he is the only one who is allowed to move the curtain. He wasn’t able to have the same amount of power over the Duchess when she was alive.
• THEMES

  Social structure and class - the poem is told through the voice of an upper class character. The poet guides the reader to see that the Dukes interpretations of his wife‘s behaviour is unreasonable.

  Art

  Jealousy and pride - the Duke was jealous of the attention his wife gave to others and wanted to be the only person in her favour. His own jealousy led him to suspect her of infidelity.
• COMPARE

  ’Ozymandias’ - tyranny and a figure of power

  ’London‘ - tyrannical control over others

  ‘The prelude’ - power of nature over humans

  ’Remains’ - power of a first person narrator / monologue and reaction to death
• KEY QUOTES

  ”My gift of a nine hundred years old name with anybody’s gift”

  ”gave commands“

  ”notice Neptune... taming a seahorse“
• “Too easily impressed“ - the Duke begins to expand on his wife’s faults - he feels she looked on with undiscriminating affection far ‘too’ simply. He wanted her to be more of aloof.