My Last Duchess

My Last Duchess

1. "That's my last Duchess, painted on the wall,"

   • Referring to fresco, a painting on fresh plaster. she can never be sold, bought or bartered. She's stuck with him forever.

2. Hints at his possessive nature - "My"

3. Based on the life a 16th Century Italian Duke. The narrator is Duke Alfonso II who ruled a place in northern Italy called Ferrera. The Duchess written about is Alfonso's 1st wife, Lucrecia de'Medici who died in 1561, age 17, under 'mysterious circumstances' - most likely poisoned.

4. "Looking as if she were alive."

   • Tells us she's dead as a backstop to the story.