'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning

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That's my last duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
"Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not
Her husband's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps
Frà Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps
"Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint
"Must never hope to reproduce the faint
"Half-flush that dies along her throat": such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
A heart--how shall I say?--too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
She rode with round the terrace--all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. She thanked men--good! but thanked
Somehow--I know not how--as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech--which I have not--to make your will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this
"Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
"Or there exceed the mark"--and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and make excuse,
--E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below, then. I repeat,
The Count your master's known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretense
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay we'll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

Editor 1 Interpretation

"My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning: A Masterpiece of Psychological Drama

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a poem that has fascinated readers and critics for over a century. Written in 1842, it is a monologue spoken by a Duke who is showing a portrait of his late wife to a visitor, and who seems to be justifying his decision to have her killed. However, the poem is much more than a simple murder mystery; it is a complex psychological drama that explores the themes of power, jealousy, art, and gender roles.

The Power Dynamics of the Duke and the Duchess

At the heart of "My Last Duchess" is the relationship between the Duke and his wife, the Duchess. The Duke is a powerful, aristocratic man who feels entitled to control and dominate his wife. He reveals that he was jealous of her interactions with other men, and that he felt she did not give him the respect he deserved:

She had
A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.

The Duke's jealousy is rooted in his insecurity about his own power and status. He sees his wife as a possession that he can show off to others, but he also resents her for being a source of pleasure and admiration to others. He hints that he may have had her killed because of her supposed infidelity:

Then all smiles stopped together.
There she stands
As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below, then.

The chilling manner in which the Duke refers to his wife's fate reveals his callousness and lack of empathy. He sees the portrait as a replacement for the real woman, who he has disposed of like a piece of property. The poem thus suggests that the Duke's desire for power and control over his wife is ultimately what led to her tragic end.

The Artistic Symbolism of the Portrait

The portrait of the Duchess is also an important symbol in the poem. It represents both the Duke's desire for control and his attempts to immortalize his wife. The Duke describes how he commissioned the portrait to be painted, and how he gave instructions to the artist to make it perfect:

"Fra Pandolf" by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus.

The Duke's obsession with the portrait is a reflection of his own vanity and desire for control. He wants to be able to show off his wife's beauty to others, but he also wants to be the only one who can appreciate it fully. The portrait thus becomes a symbol of the Duke's desire to possess and control his wife, even after her death.

The Gender Roles and Social Context of the Poem

The gender roles and social context of the poem are also important to understanding its meaning. The Duke represents the patriarchal society of his time, where men were expected to have complete power over their wives and families. The Duchess, on the other hand, represents the stifling gender roles that women were forced to conform to. Despite her beauty and charm, she is seen as a threat to the Duke's power, and he feels justified in having her killed.

The poem can also be seen as a critique of the way that art was used to reinforce these gender roles. The Duke's obsession with the portrait is a reflection of the way that art was used to objectify and control women. Women were often depicted in paintings as passive, beautiful objects, rather than as active, independent individuals. The Duke's desire to control the portrait, and to be the only one who can appreciate it fully, thus reflects the way that art was used to reinforce the patriarchal social order of his time.

Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Psychological Drama

In conclusion, "My Last Duchess" is a masterpiece of psychological drama that explores the themes of power, jealousy, art, and gender roles. The poem is a complex portrait of a man who is both a victim and a perpetrator of his own desires. The Duke's desire for power and control over his wife ultimately leads to her tragic end, but it also reveals the social and cultural forces that shaped his behavior. Through its exploration of these themes, the poem remains a timeless and powerful work of literature, one that continues to captivate readers and critics alike.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

My Last Duchess: A Masterpiece of Dramatic Monologue

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a classic poem that has been widely studied and analyzed by literary scholars and enthusiasts alike. The poem is a dramatic monologue that tells the story of a Duke who is showing a portrait of his late wife, the Duchess, to a visitor. Through the Duke's words, we get a glimpse into his character, his relationship with his wife, and his attitude towards women in general. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and language used in the poem to understand its deeper meaning and significance.

The poem begins with the Duke introducing the portrait of his late wife to the visitor. He describes the painting as a "wonderful" piece of art that captures the Duchess's beauty and charm. However, as the Duke continues to speak, we realize that his admiration for the painting is not entirely genuine. He is more interested in using it as a tool to assert his power and control over his wife, even in death.

The Duke's attitude towards his wife is one of possessiveness and jealousy. He is angry that she showed the same kindness and attention to other men as she did to him. He says, "She had a heart...too soon made glad, too easily impressed; she liked whate'er she looked on, and her looks went everywhere." The Duke's jealousy and possessiveness are evident in his desire to control every aspect of his wife's life, including her interactions with other people. He says, "I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together." This line suggests that the Duke had his wife killed because he could not tolerate her behavior.

The theme of power and control is central to the poem. The Duke is a powerful man who is used to getting what he wants. He sees his wife as a possession that he can control and manipulate. He says, "I choose never to stoop." This line suggests that the Duke sees himself as superior to his wife and that he will not lower himself to her level. The Duke's desire for power and control is also evident in his treatment of the painting. He says, "Notice Neptune, though, taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!" This line suggests that the Duke sees the painting as a symbol of his power and control over his wife.

The imagery used in the poem is also significant. The painting of the Duchess is described as a "spot of joy" on the wall. This line suggests that the Duke sees his wife as a source of happiness and pleasure, but only when she is under his control. The painting is also described as a "piece of wonder" that captures the Duchess's beauty and charm. This line suggests that the Duke sees his wife as an object to be admired and appreciated, rather than a person with her own thoughts and feelings.

The language used in the poem is also significant. The Duke speaks in a formal and polite manner, but his words are filled with underlying anger and resentment. He uses euphemisms to describe his wife's death, saying, "I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together." This line suggests that the Duke had his wife killed, but he does not want to admit it directly. The Duke also uses repetition to emphasize his point. He says, "She had a heart...too soon made glad, too easily impressed; she liked whate'er she looked on, and her looks went everywhere." This repetition suggests that the Duke is fixated on his wife's behavior and cannot let go of his jealousy and possessiveness.

In conclusion, "My Last Duchess" is a masterpiece of dramatic monologue that explores the themes of power and control, jealousy and possessiveness, and the objectification of women. The poem is a powerful commentary on the societal norms of the time, where men were expected to have complete control over their wives and women were seen as objects to be admired and possessed. Through the Duke's words, we get a glimpse into the dark side of human nature, where power and control can lead to jealousy, possessiveness, and even murder. The poem is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today, reminding us of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of treating others with respect and dignity.

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