My Last Duchess

My Last Duchess

1. Big Idea

   • This poem illustrates Duke Alfonso ll admiring a painting of his late wife whom he may of poisoned. Through the descriptions of the painting the Duke portrays himself as a arrogant, selfish and insensitive man.

2. Themes

   • Power
   • Objectification
   • Relationships
   • Jelousy
   • Obsession

3. Form

   • Dramatic Monolouge
     • Allows Browning to use the Duke's words to paint a portrait of a jealous, arrogant man.
       • His insensitive manner creates a chilling tone

4. Structure

   • Ceasura
     • Mimics unrehearsed speech
       • Possibly used to restrain himself from having a complete lack of humanity
     • Draws attention to particular ideas and phrases
   • Parenthesis and dashes
     • Creates a very arrogant chaacter
     • Reveals the Duke's true feelings on subjects
       • He is corrupt

5. Language

   • Repetition-'Joy'
     • As if the expression on her face angers him
       • Later referenced ('too soon made glad') that she enjoyed life and the Duke disliked that
         • It made it hard for him to control her
           • Her behaviour controlled his thoughts
             • He couldn't divorce or live in a loveless marriage so her death was the only option
   • Pronouns
     • e.g. 'me' (last line)
       • Draws attention to his total self obsession
         • He was a self-aggrandising and virtually omnipotent member of nobility
           • The corrupution and abuse of power criticised

6. Imagery

   • Metaphor
     • 'Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse'
       • Metaphor for his own attitudes towards relationships
         • Suggests his admiration for the ability to dominate and control as well as his arrogance
       • 'Neptune' is him and the 'sea-horse' the duchess
   • Descirptions
     • 'Bough of cherries', 'white mule she rode around he terrace'
       • He believed she was having an affair because of her interest in the world and everybody
         • He was jealous - he didn't receive enough of her attention

7. Tone

   • Dismissive
   • Chilling
   • Conversational