My Last Duchess by Robert Browning - Explanation
The poem "My Last Duchess", a type of Dramatic Monologue is written by Robert Browning, a Victorian poet. It is written in Rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter. The poem presents the same the influence of Patriarchal society in which men dominates women and decide their life and wishes. Browning also wrote another male dominated poem "Porphyria's Lover". The narrator, Duke of Ferrara invites or it seems, orders an associate of his guest to watch his collection of exquisite paintings, particularly a portrait of his ex-wife. He describes the reason behind the expression on her face, and then her wife's characteristics and goodness, then he reveals a feature of her which he hates, and he also insinuates that he had her murdered. The associate, who listens to his story, actually accompanies his master to arrange a marriage between the latter's daughter and the Duke.
The narrator, i.e. the Duke, walks with an unknown guest and shows him his collection of beautiful paintings, and then they come across the painting of his ex-wife, and he embarks to tell him about the painting. He says that the painting is so realistic that it seems that she is still alive. He praises the painting and its creator, Fra Pandolf, who, he says, worked day and night to create this masterpiece. He says that strangers who have seen the painting might be curious about the unusual expression on her face. He tells him that although they are curious about it, they never ask him, it may be due to fear. The Duke senses the question arisen in their mind and describes the reason himself that she didn't make the expression because of her husband, but due to Fra Pandolf saying her that her mantle hides too much of her wrist (skin). The Duke says that such wordings encourage her to smile with shyness. Then he says that she has decency and innocence and finds almost goodness in all things. She becomes easily impressed with anything.
The narrator, i.e. the Duke, walks with an unknown guest and shows him his collection of beautiful paintings, and then they come across the painting of his ex-wife, and he embarks to tell him about the painting. He says that the painting is so realistic that it seems that she is still alive. He praises the painting and its creator, Fra Pandolf, who, he says, worked day and night to create this masterpiece. He says that strangers who have seen the painting might be curious about the unusual expression on her face. He tells him that although they are curious about it, they never ask him, it may be due to fear. The Duke senses the question arisen in their mind and describes the reason himself that she didn't make the expression because of her husband, but due to Fra Pandolf saying her that her mantle hides too much of her wrist (skin). The Duke says that such wordings encourage her to smile with shyness. Then he says that she has decency and innocence and finds almost goodness in all things. She becomes easily impressed with anything.
The Duke doesn't like the same expression of joy for all things, whether his appreciation of her beauty or sunset, or if an official brings her some cherries from the orchard or when she rides a white mule round the terrace. In Duke's high aspirations, all these little pleasures are nothing but the Duchess expressing excess joy or blush on them. He says that he appreciates that she thanks all people, but shows the same happiness and gratitude towards him, who belongs to a rich and ancient aristocratic family. He boasts of his position and family background and doesn't want to be at the level of commoners, and the Duchess' who doesn't differentiate between the rich or the poor and praises a thing by its beauty and decency. He wants the Duchess to show more gratitude towards the Duke's name and gifts than other things. He also mentions to the unknown person that he doesn't have the talent to point someone his/her faults, even if she wants to be "lessoned" then also he would not point her faults because he doesn't want to lower his status. He again expresses his satisfaction on her good behaviour by saying that whenever he passes by her, she still smiles heavily and it angered him. Her such etiquette grows with time. At last, he commands his private assassins to finish her life and smile. Now she exists only in this painting. The Duke doesn't mention clearly that he had her murdered but one can judge by his words. Then he asks the person to stand and walks with him downstairs to meet the rest of company of the person.
For the first time in the entire poem, the Duke finally introduces to the unknown person as an accomplice of the Count (a nobleman) who accompanies his master to arrange the nuptial relation of her daughter with the Duke. In a clear and straightforward demand, the Duke tells him that the dowry should be no less than his grandeur expectations, as the Count is known for great generosity, he also tells him that though his daughter is the most desired object for him. After this one-way conversation, the Duke insists the accomplice to walk with him downstairs and on the way, he exhibits to him Claus of Innsbruck's creation of a bronze statue of Neptune, God of the Ocean, domesticating a sea horse.
