My Last Duchess

My Last Duchess

1. duke points portrait of duchess out to visitor

   • duke says her expression was for everyone, not just him, he's annoyed
     • he stoped duchess flirting, but doesn't say how
       • the duke&visitor walk away&duke is marrying again

2. FORM

   • dramatic monologue
     • speaking to you-powerful
   • iambic pentameter
     • natural
   • enjambement
     • natural
   • caesura
     • natural
   • rhyming couplets, - educated
     • steady, regular, stately

3. STRUCTURE

   • combination of things he mentions
     • duchess' behaviour
     • proud family history
     • reaction
     • make him sound unstable

4. DRAMATIC IRONY

   • what duke says is innocent but have sinister meanings - ambiguous

5. POWER

   • he felt the need to have control and power over duchess
   • he saw her as a possession

6. STATUS

   • really important to duke - he cares about it

7. FEELINGS & ATTITUDES

   • Pride
     • possessions//status
   • Jealousy
     • he hated how duchess flirted with other men
   • Power
     • enjoys having the control over painting unlike the actual duchess

8. duke and duchess have different opinions

   • 'such stuff/was courtesy, she thought , and cause enough/for calling up that spot of joy
     • duchess:thinks she's polite
     • duke: think she's unfriendly.inappropiate

9. duke's anger

   • 'her looks went everywhere'
   • duke wanted to be the only one
   • duchess was nosy

10. duke confronting duchess

    • 34-43
    • he'd lower his status
    • 'who'd stoop to blame'
    • he'd appear jealous: weakens him