Introduction
A poet can reveal many details of a character’s life and personality in a short poem by letting him speak. A dramatic monologue is a representation of one’s beliefs and values that paint a clear picture of one’s true intentions and desires. Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess” is an example of such a monologue in which the reader can deduce how the character sees the world. The speaker – the Duke of Ferrara – talks about his late wife, whose portrait now hangs in his private gallery. In the poem “My Last Duchess,” the Duke shows that he values status and power, which drives his jealousy and makes him want to control every aspect of his former wife’s behavior.
Summary
Throughout the 56 lines of the poem, the Duke talks to a person who is negotiating the Duke’s future marriage to a daughter of a wealthy count. He shows the guest his private gallery, where the portrait of his late wife hangs behind the curtain. As the guest inquires about the painting, the Duke talks about the Duchess’ smile and character, describing her heart as “too soon made glad, / Too easily impressed” (Browning 22-23). He then criticizes her for always being courteous, open, and joyous, believing she was too approachable and did not appreciate his high status. The Duke says that he could never talk to her earnestly as it did not fit his high social standing. Finally, he recalls giving commands, which somehow stifled her smiles forever, and then quickly moves on from the painting to the next lavish piece in his collection.
Character Analysis
Throughout the poem, the monologue reveals many details about the Duke’s personality. In the first lines, one sees that the man values his high position and the resources he has that would produce a beautiful painting. He mentions the painter’s name and adds, “I call / That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf’s hands / Worked busily a day,” as if highlighting the mastery of the work (Browning 2-4). The end of the poem also reveals that the Duchess’ portrait is viewed as a part of his collection to him rather than a precious memory of his former wife. The Duke quickly moves on from discussing the painting – “There she stands / As if alive. Will’t please you rise?” (Browning 46-47). He then starts showing the next piece – “Notice Neptune, though, / Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity / Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!” (Browning 54-56). Here, one can see that the Duke does not feel sorrow about his wife’s passing.
During their marriage, the Duke’s behavior appears similarly controlling and dismissive. He assumes the guest would ask about the wife’s beautiful smile and her blushing cheeks. The man is quick to complain that “’twas not / Her husband’s presence only, called that spot / Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek” (Browning 13-15). The Duke believes that everything made her smile and that she appreciated other people, nature, animals, and her husband equally, without reserving affection for him. This behavior seems to infuriate him, as he says, “she ranked / My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody’s gift” (Browning 32-34). These lines also show that, as a man from a powerful family, he expects special treatment from his wife and possibly wishes that she would only smile for him.
However, he dismisses any opportunity to talk to his wife about this view. The Duke demonstrates his jealousy and the need for control rather than an honest conversation. He says, “Who’d stoop to blame / This sort of trifling,” showing that he would never talk to her about her behavior while also displaying his deep desire to control rather than understand her (Browning 34-35). Even if the man decided to express his emotions, they would reveal his misogynistic view of her. He imagines saying, “Just this / Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, / Or there exceed the mark,” clearly presenting his need to exert power over the Duchess’ behavior (Browning 37-39). Instead, driven by his ideas of the wife’s submission to her husband, he gives “commands; Then all smiles stopped together” (Browning 45-46). An interpretation of these lines is that the Duke ordered his wife to be killed (Sasikala 2). Therefore, one can see that his value of personal status and desire for absolute control over the Duchess led to her death.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the monologue in the poem “My Last Duchess” by Browning reveals much about the speaker, the Duke of Ferrara. A selfish and controlling man, the Duke speaks about his former wife, complaining about his inability to control her behavior and emotions. The man demonstrates his belief in his own status and the special role his wife should have played, paying attention and expressing joy only to him. Unable to control her, the Duke presumably gives instructions to kill the Duchess, her portrait remaining as the last memory of her, one of the pieces in his art collection.
Works Cited
Browning, Robert. “My Last Duchess.” Poetry Foundation, 1842, Web.
Sasikala, R. “The Power of the Duke in ‘My Last Duchess.’” Scholar: National School of Leadership, vol. 9, no. 1.0, 2020, pp. 1-5.