My Last Duchess Essay

An Explicate on My Last Duchess

In “My Last Duchess,” Robert Browning uses an excellent example of dramatic monologue. Browning uses a casual conversation throughout the poem which makes the reader feel as if he or she were overhearing it. As “My Last Duchess” unfolds, the reader discovers the central idea from analyzing the relationship between the lines and stanzas. The most explicit theme in the poem is one of power and jealousy which the Duke displays throughout. This theme is made apparent when the Duke stands in front of an agent for his fiancée’s family with a portrait of his last wife – who is now dead – and talks about her flaws. By the end, the reader realizes that the irony in this piece is that the Duke’s perceived “faults” of the Duchess were actually good characteristics to have such as compassion and courtesy to those whom served her. This being said, we can infer that the Duke is doing this to warn his future wife the consequences of not living up to his standards. In the beginning of the poem, the Duke shows a portrait

Browning cleverly conveys his messages by including literary techniques. Since there is one speaker, we have to carefully asses what he or she is telling us. Although the Duke’s monologue appears to be about his former wife, she is simply a side note in his self-important speech. The Duke’s last wife was pleasant to everyone, and he is going to make sure his next wife, the daughter of the Count, doesn’t behave the same way. Some statements appear to be modest on the surface, but the Duke furthers his arrogance. We find irony in these statements because at one point, we believe that modesty existed. Overall, the poem leaves readers in a shocking suspense. A brilliant performance by a captivating character, an enjoyably written script, and a title that is a risky revelation in