What Is The Tone Of The Last Duchess

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Confucius once said that silence is a friend who will never betray. For the Duke in Robert Browning's poem "The Last Duchess" silence is the only friend he has left, but just barely. While giving a tour of his estate, the Duke talks about his late Duchess in terms that could lead the audience to believe she was murdered. However the Duke never mentions whether the audience's assumptions are true, just that "I gave commands; / then all smiles stopped together" (Lines 45-46). Ominous and vague, and given that way for a reason. Earlier on in the poem the Duke makes a point to mention that he would never stoop to his late Duchess' level. The question is what won't he stoop down to do? Talk to his wife about her smiles or admit to dirtying his hands in her untimely death? The reason that Browning doesn't tell the audience whether or not the Duke killed his …show more content…

It is clear from the Duke's characterization that he is in control of the poem. This is a given since the poem is one-sided and conversational in tone. The Duke's speech is painfully strict and controlled by using rhyming couplets (AABBCC) and enjambments to complete his careful thoughts. It's terrifying to know that even though he is giving up precious information he is not letting on to the extremes of his jealousy, which is another controlled substance to his story telling. He hints to a darkness within him but keeps silent on the actuality of it. From the Duke's phrasing, he wants the viewer to think that he is the innocent party. Stooping never looks innocent, as he has led us to believe. "She had / A heart – how shall I say? – too soon made glad, / Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er / She looked on, and

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