Analysis of My Last Duchess by Robert Browning :: Robert Browning, My Last Duchess

A salient monologue is a verse form in which a single loudspeaker who is notthe poet recites the entire poem at a critical moment. The speakerhas a listener within the poem, but the commentator of the poem is also oneof the speakers listeners. In a dramatic monologue, the reader learnsabout the speakers character from what the speaker says. RobertBrowning is said to have perfected this form of writing. One of hismost famous dramatic monologues is My Last Duchess. The speaker in the poem is an Italian duke who ordered the murder ofhis wife and is at the clear upset of the poem showing off the portrait tohis future son-in-law. Browning lets the reader know in a roundaboutway that the duke but shows the portrait of his late wife to selectstrangers. In doing this, the speaker is able to show off his wealth tothe stranger and he seems to enjoy telling these people the story ofhow he ordered her to death. The speaker tries to convey to thepeople that he shows the portrait to that he is in control ofeverything that takes place in his household. In lines 8-9, the speakerinterjects since none puts by The curtain I have drawn for you Inthis line, the speaker is aphorism that he doesnt draw the curtain forjust anyone. He has drawn the curtain particularly for his futureson-in-law and he should feel privileged because the portrait can onlybe seen under the speakers complete control. The Duke believes that he should be shown complete respect and bethe center of attention while in his home. The Duke thought his wifeshould be for him and his pleasures only. He did not like it when FraPandolf, the artist who painted the portrait said Fra Pandolf chanced to say Her mantle laps Over my ladys wrist too much, or, Paint Must never accept to reproduce the faint Half-flush that dies along her throat.to the duchess in lines 16-18. And then again in lines 27-28, the duketells about how some officious fool brought her cherries from theorchard. The duke also could not stand the particular that the duchess treatedeveryone and every gift equally all and each / Would draw from heralike the approving speech, / Or blush, at least (lines 29-31). Theduke thought of his wife as one of his possessions and she couldnever be treated as his equal Een then would be some stoopingand I choose / Never to stoop (lines 42-43).