My Last Duchess Summary,Analysis,Explanation
1. A General Note[My Last Duchess Summary]
The poem belongs to Browning’s celebrated volume of poems Dramatis Lyrics, Bells and Pomegranets (No. III), published in 1842. The original title was Italy.
The poem is a dramatic monologue, though exactly this has some occasional addresses to another person. A Duke is shown to speak in the presence of the envoy of a count whose daughter he proposes to marry.
The very expression Ferrara, given as the subtitle of the poem, indicates that the Duke is of Ferrara, a well fortified city of Lower Lombardy. It was supposed to be held by the Este family, sometimes under the suzerainty of the Pope, sometimes as independent masters, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century.
The Ferrarese Duke, represented by Browning, seems to have been modelled after Alfanso II, the fifth Duke of the ancient house of Este, who went for a second marriage, with a handsome dowry, after the death of his first wife of poisoning.
2. The Title of the Poem
The poem, titled as My Last Duchess, is a monologue of a Duke in the presence of the envoy of a count whose daughter, he proposes to marry in the expectation of a large amount of dowry. As he shows the envoy the portrait of his dead wife, supposed to have been painted by a famous artist (no doubt imaginary), he speaks to him of her. He recounts in his monologue the nature of his duchess, rather last duchess. She was very tender, gentle, amicable and obliging to everyone. The count also admits how out of his possessive sense and sexual jealousy, he ordered for her execution.
In fact, the poem is mainly about the Duke’s monologue of his last Duchess, although, towards the end of the poem, he speaks of his expectation of a handsome dowry from another count whose daughter he proposes to marry.
Actually, the interest of the Duke’s monologue revolves round his last duchessher beauty and simplicity and his own desire to dominate her body and mind absolutely. The prime point of the monologue in his own confession- ‘This grew; I gave command / Then all smiles stopped together’ . Unwittingly he admitted the murder of his last duchess. In the circumstances, stated above, the title My Last Duchess seems quite appropriate.
3. Substance
The poem is a monologue of a Duke (an Italian) in the presence of the envoy of a count whose daughter he intends to marry, perhaps, in the expectation of a handsome dowry. Standing before the portrait of his first wife (perhaps, just deceased), his last duchess, he unveils the cover and shows it to his companion proudly. He tells him that this life-like, elegant portrait was drawn by an expert painter, Fra Pandolf (no doubt imaginary).
The stern, selfish and possessive Duke speaks of her nature, – gentle, soft, amiable, easily impressionable and ready to oblige everyone. He also is quite frank of his dislike for this sort of conduct from his wife. He feels no shame to confess plainly his inability to bear that any more and his decision to kill her to assert his right and authority. Thereafter he asks the envoy to come down with him and draws his attention to a fine bronze statue of Neptune, taming a wild horse. Finally, he expresses shamelessly his hope for receiving a handsome dowry from the master of the envoy for marrying his daughter.
4. Analysis
I. A stern, selfish, egoistic Duke of a long-drawn aristocracy gives out his monologue in the presence of an envoy from a foreign count whose daughter he intends to marry. He draws his attention to a portrait of his last duchess, drawn by a celebrated painter Fra Pandolff. He points out to him how lively the representation of the lady, with her warmth and depth of feeling, is in that portrait to derive wonder and admiration from all. (Lines 1-13)
II. The Duke next dwells on the nature of his last duchess in the monologue. She was courteous, accommodative and easily impressionable. She was perfrectly polished and liberal in her conduct to all and made no difference between her admirers and her husband. She blushed at and greeted all alike. (Lines 13-31)
III. The Duke, however, admits in his monologue how he sharply and sternly reacted at that attitude of his last duchess. His egoistic and possessive instinct could not bear her manner that seemed to violate his age-old aristocracy and level him with everyone who sought her favour. As he could not lower himself by warning her against all that he disliked, he ordered for her execution. She is now dead and her portrait remains to make her alive. (Lines 31-46)
IV. As he descends with the envoy, he draws his attention to a rare bronze statue of Neptune, engaged in taming a wild sea-horse, made by a famous sculptor and shamelessly reminds his guest of his expectation of a handsome dowry from his master whose daughter he is going to marry. (Lines 47-56)
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