...My Last Duchess Robert Browning was in his 50s before he achieved universal popularity but the lean years prior to his recognition allowed the poet to experiment with genre, form and language. As well as poetry, Browning had a great love of theatre and one of his early ambitions was as a playwright but after failing to find success on the stage, he accepted that he lacked the skill to engage audiences for several hours. However, his apprenticeship was not wasted for Browning, honing his skills by endlessly editing scripts, took the dramatic monologue (a new genre of poetry invented by Tennyson) and perfected it. His preoccupation with individual introspection that was a disaster in theatre, once transferred to poetry, added richness and depth. And by employing dramatic techniques learned in the theatre, he created complete poems that could be viewed as vignettes of a larger text. In other words, he was able to successfully write shorter pieces but in a new dramatic fashion. My Last Duchess is not only an example of a dramatic monologue, it is also one of Browning’s most famous and, generally regarded as, his best work. Published in 1842, the poem is the influence of a month-long trip to Italy, a country where he ultimately spent a large part of his life, and can be considered one of his ‘Italian’ poems. The back story is usually considered to be that of the last of the Este line, the fifth Duke of Ferrara, Alfonso II, a Renaissance aristocrat who is famous for imprisoning...
Words: 1717 - Pages: 7
...Gendered Violence in Browning’s Poems “My Last Duchess” and “Porphyria’s Lover”, both written by Robert Browning in 1842, contain strong elements of gendered sexual violence that is likely a product of the repression and censorship that typified the Victorian Age. While “Porphyria’s Lover” is much more graphic and obvious in its depiction of sexual violence, “My Last Duchess” contains a number of elements that are dark and disturbing in their own right. Most important of these is the objectification of the duchess, which reduces her identity to that of another display in a collection. Both similarities and differences between the poems will be analyzed, including theme, symbolism, rhyme scheme, tone, and the nature of the sexual violence itself. This will show that the gendered sexual violence present in Browning’s poems is indicative of their historical context, primarily the social norms of the time. There are strong similarities between the two poems, particularly in theme, where both poems display a preservation of the mens’ idea of the feminine in a form that fit their ideal. In “My Last Duchess” this is seen in the opening lines, “That's my last Duchess painted on the wall / Looking as if she were alive . . .” and a little later in lines nine and ten, when it is revealed that the Duke keeps the painting curtained so that only he can enjoy the sight and smile of his late wife (1-2,9-10). In “Porphyria’s Lover” the theme is present in the narrator’s desire to fix Porphyria...
Words: 1315 - Pages: 6
...Personalities of the Duke in “My Last Duchess” “My Last Duchess" is a poem by Robert Browning, frequently anthologised as an example of the dramatic monologue. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Last_Duchess) In this poem, Browning establishes the personalities of its speaker—the duke indirectly but distinctly through his monologue alone. By reading the monologue, readers can find a duke who is apparently gentle and cultivated, but actually imperious and selfish. This essay is an analysis of the duke’s personalities and how does the poet establish them through monologue. At the beginning and the end of the poem, the duke shows the guest two of his valuable collections. The first one is the portrait of his wife painted by Fra Pandolf. The second one is the Neptune cast by Claus. By showing these valuable masterpieces, the duke wants to prove his love and pursuit of art and to show his good taste. He seems himself as a noble and cultivated gentleman. However, he shows his real personalities such as arrogance, jealousy, hypocrisy and selfishness through his monologue. The poem opens with the duke showing the painting of his dead wife to his guest. The duke calls “that piece a wonder” for his wife looks “as if she were alive”. And he specificly mentions that this painting was done by Fra Pandolf who is an imaginary famous painter. But he immediately says that he mentioned Fra Pandolf “by design” lest his guest fail to appreciate the significance of this painting. At the same...
Words: 748 - Pages: 3
...Analysis of Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” Melvin J Rogers L26599934 Liberty University Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess” is based on an incident in the life of the Italian Duke Alfonso II d’Este of the Duchy of Ferrara (eNotes.com, 2014). The use of the dramatic monologue is the most effective device to reveal what Browning believes to be the true nature of the narrator, the Duke. By allowing the narrator to tell his own story it becomes readily apparent to the reader that he is a flawed person; self-centered, arrogant, controlling and bordering on the narcissistic. In order to lead the reader to the pre-determined conclusion regarding the Duke’s character, Browning creates two tones, one for the Duke, and one for the poem overall. The tone of the Duke is one of arrogance or insolence; he is quite proud of himself in the way in which he feels he commands those around him and he feels that he is superior to them. Several lines in the poem paint this picture for the reader. The Duke feels that merely being a part of his family is something that should be celebrated and cherished (“- as if she ranked/My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name/With anybody’s gift.”) (lines 32 – 34). The Duke refers to the artist who painted the portrait of his wife in a way that implies that not just anyone could secure his services (“I said/ “Fra Pandolf” by design …”) (lines 5 - 6). He is proud of the fact that he does not compromise (“- E’en then would be some stooping;...
Words: 926 - Pages: 4
...Comparative essay on ‘My last Duchess’ and ‘Porphyria’s lover’ Robert Browning was born in May 1812 and died at the age of seventy. Browning was an English poet who has become known as the person to invent and popularise the dramatic monologue. This made him the foremost Victorian poet; two of his most successful dramatic monologues are those of ‘My last Duchess’ and ‘Porphyria’s Lover’. The reoccurring theme within the two monologues is murder as they show the idea of men killing a lover Dramatic monologues are significant in that there is only one point of view expressed throughout. In Victorian times dramatic monologues were very popular; Browning was seen as the innovator of this style of writing along with other eminent Victorian poets such as Rossetti and Tennyson. The dramatic monologue takes its style from Shakespeare’s soliloquies were a character speaks their thoughts and feelings aloud. This idea and style has been extended to the preset day, with Alan Bennett’s ‘Talking Heads.’ The speaker in ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ is the lover himself, residing in a cottage in the countryside at the beginning of the poem. The mood of the narrator is established right at the start as he talks about “the sullen wind’ ‘tore,’ ‘vex’ and ‘spite.’ He is clearly angry and unhappy. However as soon as Porphyria ‘glided’ in, the mood changes and she ‘ shut the cold out and the storm.’ The narrator feels warmed by her presence. At once the reader sees that Porphyria has taken control...
Words: 2042 - Pages: 9
...being desirable. Power and control is explored in a cynical aspect by the writers; how it could distort individuals –even bring their demise. In “My Last Duchess”, Browning shows us how power can unhinge a person; create him into a monster devoid of emotions. Ironically the man born with the silver spoon is no different to the hawk in Hughes’ poem with the mind-set of sheer superiority. We see Tybalt in Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” and the man in “Human Interest” in a moment of passion kill; because of a trespass done to them. A moment, that ultimately leads to death of the former, and the latter rotting in a cell. Browning has written “My Last Duchess” in iambic pentameter and rhyming couplets. The only difference in the otherwise organized structure is the use of enjambment. I believe this is a main factor on what makes “My Last Duchess” such a dramatic monologue. Browning has done this to create a very distinct persona of the Duke in his poem. The organized structure of the poem shows us his controlled demeanour; it gives off an impression of how the Duke acts as befitting his rank. The enjambments (as seen in line 9 to name one in many) make us see more of his character. He is unpredictable; beneath his charming exterior he is someone you should be wary of. A wolf in sheep's clothing. The Duke recounts his last duchess and even insinuates killing her in a very casual manner. There isn’t any remorse or sadness in the tone of the poem. He “gave commands” and “all...
Words: 483 - Pages: 2
...My Last Duchess and Greek Mythology Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess” contains a wide variety of rhetorical devices and includes some symbolism. One piece of symbolism that has gone relatively unnoticed is the allusion to Poseidon because of the mention of his Roman counterpart Neptune; both aid in making Browning’s point clear. Neptune and Poseidon both have strong connections to the main speaker (the assumed Duke of Ferrara). Browning is trying to make the point that unfaithful women and quick-tempered men should be avoided. Browning’s poem is about a nobleman showing an emissary of a potential new wife around the nobleman’s art gallery. The nobleman points out the portrait of his last Duchess and talks about her flirtatious nature and other qualities that annoyed him “her looks...
Words: 1201 - Pages: 5
...on the key events of the painting, the marriage between the Duke and the past Duchess, the possible murder of the Duchess and the yet to be new wife. The story being told is of the relationship between the Duke and former Duchess. Browning adopts numerous narrative techniques. Browning uses the form of a dramatic monologue to help the story progress. For instance 'That's my Last Duchess' shows that there is one speculator although there is an implied audience. The effect of this is that it shows that the poem tells a story that consists of much more than the words spoken by the one giving the monologue. To evaluate, the dramatic monologue makes it engaging with the reader. Additionally, Browning uses rhetorical questions as part of form to help tell the story. For example, 'Who'd stoop to blame..' is a clear example of the Duke trying to persuade his audience. The effect is that it reveals more about the Duke's character as the rhetorical question reinforces the impression that the Duke is haughty and self-important. To evaluate, Browning uses rhetorical questions effectively, revealing more about his character. Browning uses a lexical field of jealousy, ownership, artistry and love in order to aid the progression of the story. For instance, 'my Last Duchess painted on the wall' shows that the Duchess is objectified. The effect of this is that it allows the reader to sympathise with the Duchess and forces the reader to think of the Duke in a negative manner. To evaluate,...
Words: 501 - Pages: 3
...Mr del Vecchio Name___________________________________________Form________________ From left to right, match the image with a poem from the anthology you havde studied Scaffold for an essay in response to the poetry question How do Carol Ann Duffy in Havisham and Simon Armitage in Kid and Robert Browning in ‘The Laboratory’ and ‘My Last Duchess’, present their perspectives on the theme of betrayal? Objective: how to achieve an A* in the Poetry question * Respond to texts critically, sensitively and in detail, using textual evidence as appropriate * Explore how language, structure and forms contribute to the meaning of texts, considering different approaches to texts, and alternative interpretations * Explore relationships and comparisons within and between texts, selecting and evaluating relevant material * Introduction: keep this brief and concise! * Avoid any description of what happens and cut straight to how the themes are treated similarly in the poems and where the writers’ treatments part company. | POINTLiterary Conceits are features of both poems, through which Duffy and Armitage convey the mental state of their characters | HAVISHAM QUOTATIONS“Havisham” | Both poems begin with and frequently employ strong plosives._____________________________________________For the development: * include that Havisham is an interior monologue; * how do the plosives express her state of mind? * In Havisham, the opening plosive...
Words: 1628 - Pages: 7
...“My Last Duchess” Annotated Bibliography 1 When Lou Thompson’s wrote his article titled Browning’s MY LAST DUCHESS he wanted to compare the poem My Last Duchess by Robert Browning with the poem by Geoffrey Chaucer called The Book of the Duchess. Thompson talks about the “obvious parallels” (Thompson) it has In his article he describes the differences and similarities between the two men in the poems. In lines 21-24 of My Last Duchess and lines 873-875 of Book of the Duchess there are resemblances. In both poems the speakers describe their wives, which similarly they were both duchess’s and both have passed away. Both poems deal with the gladness and the looks of the women, and even the word ‘glad’ appears in both excerpts in a line-final position. The descriptions, however, are incompatible as Chaucer’s poem praises the wife “for were she never so glad, Hyr lokynge was not foly sprad, Ne wildely, thogh that she pleyde” (Chaucer). In Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess, the duke does the opposite “She had/A heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad—she liked whate’er/ She looked on, and her looks went everywhere” (Browning). Thompson goes on to compare the two poems by explaining the two men’s concerns with their wives’ and how beautiful both women in the poems were. The knight in the Chaucer’s poem worships his duchess while the Duke in Browning’s poem does not. Thompson also states how the Black Knight in Chaucer’s poem grieves for his dead wife and the Duke has no sympathy for...
Words: 464 - Pages: 2
...The similarities between Robert Browning's two poems, “My Last Duchess” and Porphyria's Lover, are ordinary, as they can be compared in theme, plot, style, language, perspective and various other ways. The two poems make the same statement concerning men and love and men and their relationship with women. In both poems, the male narrator looks like a jealous, overbearing tyrant and the woman a passive victim of circumstance. Neither poem makes men look very good. This is a single stanza poem. The structure used of “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning. This poem provides a good use of Euphemism and Persona. The structural elements include iambic pentameter, the line, heroic couplet, strophe and stanza. Poets combine the use of language and a specific structure to create imaginative and expressive work such as My Last Duchess by Robert Browning. The structure used in some Poetry types is also used when considering the visual effect of a finished poem. The structure of many types of poetry results in groups of lines on the page which enhance the poem's composition. This poem provides a good example of Euphemism and Persona. “Porphyria’s Lover,” while natural in its language, does not display the colloquialisms or dialectical markers of some of Browning’s later poems. Moreover, while the cadence of the poem mimics natural speech, it actually takes the form of highly patterned verse, rhyming ABABB. The intensity and asymmetry of the pattern suggests the madness concealed within...
Words: 1603 - Pages: 7
...specific time of change, many people who lived during this period would agree. The Victorian period lasted during Queen Victoria’s reign, which is how the name was established. Queen Victoria started as Queen in 1837 which is when the beginning of the period was. The period ended in 1901, which was the death of the Queen. Other then the Industrial revolution, there were many other events that happened in the 64 years of this era like a depression, “The Hungry Forties”, The Potato Famine, and most important very poor working conditions. One poet that really stood out during all of these tragic events was a man named Robert Browning. Robert Browning wrote many different works, but two works that are common but different are “Prospice” and “My Last Duchess” which both come with common themes but different approaches to those themes. Robert Browning was born on May 7th, 1812 in Camberwell, London to a middleclass family. When Browning was a very young child he decided that he wanted to be a poet. His love for poetry came from his father, also a Robert Browning. His parents were completely supportive with his decision to become a poet. His father specifically educated Browning at home. It is said that the reason of his “wide range of unusual information the mature poet brought to his work” (Poetry Foundation) is because of his father homeschooling him. They would cover his financial needs and any resources he needed to achieve his dream as a poet. Another part of Browning’s life to be...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
...How does Browning tell the story in the Laboratory Robert Brownings, The Laboratory tells the story of a woman entering the “devil’s smithy” in order to create a poison, in which would kill the woman because she was seeing a man. The Laboratory is told in first person narrative so immediately it makes the poem very imitate with the reader and so we feel like the woman is speaking to the reader about her problems and how she is going to kill the woman. The quote “he is with her” shows how she doesn't like how the man has gone for the woman but also the tone of this is very spiteful when she says this and shows how the woman is arrogant. As the woman speaks she uses imperatives like “grind” and “pound” the use of these violent imperatives show her edging on and how she is reinforcing her pleasure showing how she is enjoying herself with what she is about to do. The quote “I am no it haste” also shows how she is enjoying the pleasure of the poison. The woman can also be viewed as scornful shown in the line "he is sure to remember her dying face", suggesting she wants a seemingly innocent woman to die ugly, simply because she spoke to a man she should not have by the woman. Browning also uses the use of exclamttives to show the characters journey through the poem, “a filigree basket!”, this exclamative shows how the woman is getting more excited about the poison and it shows the delight in which she enjoys. Browning also uses context in his he telling of the story in...
Words: 783 - Pages: 4
...Shakespeare won’t have included this scene just as a way to present the disturbed characters; he will have included it to impress the people watching the play. Religious believers in that time believed in the idea of the religious order, which was the belief that God has created an ordered system for both nature and human kind, every creature/person has a place and the order should not be disrupted. Including the porter scene in the play would of reinforced this belief, as the King was seen to be at the top of this ordered system, meaning once he was murdered this order had been disrupted. This scene showed some the effects of the link between man and God being severed through Pathetic Fallacy. Another way in which Shakespeare would have tried to impress his audience, mainly the monarch at the time (King James 1st) was through the character Banquo. King James believed himself to be a descendent of Banquo, therefore he was written to be a noble, wise and regal man whose good qualities tended to make some of the other characters, particularly Macbeth, envy him. King James 1 considered himself to be an expert on witchcraft, he wrote a book which stated that witches made a pact with the devil, so including the evil ways of the witches and showing them to be dark creatures that turn good loyal men into murderers would have pleased the King as that is how he viewed them himself. If you continue to look into Macbeth’s character, he starts to spiral out of control very quickly. He starts...
Words: 1871 - Pages: 8
...styles and verbal cues. In Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess, the author employs interesting line breaks and enjambment to help the reader get a true sense of the Duke, despite the way the he portrays himself as an honorable, kind man who had no choice but to kill his young wife. The poem takes place in the sixteenth century and is loosely based on Alfonso, the Duke of Ferrara, whose wife met an untimely death. In this dramatic monologue the Duke is speaking to an emissary negotiating another marriage. Portraying himself as a good man, and a worthy candidate for a new young bride the Duke takes the emissary on a tour of his house. He shows himself to be a man of good taste by “modestly” showing his collection of art work. When arriving upon a painting obscured by a curtain the Duke begins to reminisce about his late wife; as he describes her he tells of her disrespect. She constantly disobeyed him and even went so far as to flirt with other men by smiling at them and accepting their gift. The Duke is a wronged man whose wife took advantage of his position and generosity. As the monologue progressed however, the Duke begins to show his true colors. When one digs a bit deeper and reads between the lines it becomes obvious that the duke is a very controlling individual; all of his actions give away his true nature. The first instance in which the Duke’s selfish nature is reveal is in the fact that he has the picture of the duchess hidden behind a curtain. He exerts control by...
Words: 863 - Pages: 4
