Poets often use literary techniques to clearly convey the personalities of their speakers. In "My Last Duchess", Robert Browning uses point of view, diction, and imagery to achieve a powerful effect, underlining the attitude and personality of the Duke.
In a dramatic monologue, character development is based on what the speaker says, and how he says it. In "My Last Duchess", the speaker of the monologue addresses a fictional audience, and the reader is seen as an unnoticed third party. It is because of this viewpoint that the reader is able to analyze the words and actions of the Duke, gaining insight into his life and personality that he is not aware of giving. While the poet...show more content...
The Duke's "trifling lack of countenance" is evident in his jealousy of the duchess's kindness toward others. Her benevolence "disgusts" the Duke, and causes him to "stoop" down to spouting off "commands" in her direction. By publicly describing the features that he disliked about the personality of his duchess, he is shown to be a heartless, arrogant man. His complete nonchalant manner about the issue of his wife's death is also seen through his diction. He seems to care more about impressing his guests than telling them about his wife, as he describes the artwork and artist with such passion. "The piece a wonder, now: Fra
Pandolf's hands worked busily a day, and there she stands." He encourages the envoy to "Please you sit and look at her," as he had invited many other men to do so. Through the diction used both in describing the Duke and in his own thoughts, the reader sees his arrogant and ruthless nature.
Browning's use of distinct imagery further creates the picture of the Duke as an egotistical, tyrannical, and ruthless man. The Duke, through his words to the envoy and his description of his duchess, proves his own need to be in control. He initially asks his guests to "please you sit and look at her", later tells his guests that no one may draw the curtain, and in the end commands them to "please rise" and go downstairs. These commands paint the Duke as a man
'My Last Duchess' is a poem written by Robert Browning in 1845. It's a first person narrative of a duke who is showing the ambassador around his palace and negotiating his marriage to the daughter of another powerful family. As they are walking through the palace, the duke stops and looks at the beautiful portrait of his lovely last duchess. The duke speaks his thoughts about the girl, and as the poem progresses we begin to realize that his last duchess had been murdered. "...I gave commands, then all smiles stopped together," This metaphorical sentence tells us that his commands were the ones that caused her death and her 'stop of all smiles together'. The reason behind this is that she was flirtatious with all men because "she...show more content...
"My favour at her breast, the dropping of the daylight in the West". Here the Duke tells us that he believed he had a seat at her heart. However her passion for him was diminishing as quickly as a day's sunset in the West. The daylight is such a beautiful thing, but her love for him was like the 'dropping of daylight' meaning that he was losing such a beauty and he regretted. This metaphor used is a tragic metaphor.
The rhetorical question used on line 23 reflects his anger. "A heart– how shall I say? – too soon made glad..." this quote explains that she was pleased by all men, and the Duke was struggling to find a way to express himself successfully. This is because he was so bothered by the fact that he didn't satisfy her enough since she needed the satisfaction from other men. His frustration also reflects that there is an element of jealousy within him. "Oh sir, she smiled..." The poet makes use of a sibilant, which is an irritating sound to hear. This emphasizes his anger and frustration. He never refers to her by name, which reflects his disturbed character.
After all of the Duke's anger builds up, we learn that he lets out all of his frustration in a very negative and disturbed manner. "This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands as if alive." The deliberate ambiguity used in this sentence hints to the audience that he has murdered her.
The poem is one
How does Browning tell the story in 'My Last Duchess' ?
Browning's 'My Last Duchess' examines the Duke of Ferrara's recollection of memories– he is showing how the Duke is remembering the past experiences with the now murdered wife he once had, but whether he loved or despised her – or both– is unclear. Browning suggests that theDuke murdered her himself.
The poem opens with the narration from the Duke and the voice of dramatic monologue is established. Browning refers to the painting in the duke's voice as 'my last Duchess', using a possesive pronoun to show that the Duke has a dominant sense of character, and calling his late wife 'last' rather than 'late'. He ought, perhaps, to have said 'late', but this word establishes his materialism and shallow personality, which cause the reader to mistrust his version of events that follow. In the opening we immediately find out that the duchess is 'looking as if she were alive,' and that only 'now' the painting is a 'wonder'. Thus, the aspect of opening is important in Browning's telling of the story...show more content... The opening of the poem anticipates the ending of the listener finding out about the murder, with hints of paranoia to lead up to it throughout the poem. The account of what the Duke imagines Fra Pandolf saying to his
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"My last Duchess" In the story "My last Duchess," the Duke is speaking to the envoy of another nobleman of his second bride to be. The Duke describes the circumstances of his last duchess in which it was painted and boasted how Fra Pandolf the painter made her "look as if she was alive". The Duke continues speaking about the unfortunate fate of his former wife. It is evident that a crime has been committed; He was jealous and annoyed of his easily impressed wife so he murdered her. His tone and demeanor is one of extreme arrogance and it is clear he is a dangerous man who poses a threat to any and all women he claims to love. First of all, you can clearly see the motive on why he killed his wife. In his opinion, the last Duchess was too easily pleased because she smiled and blushed at everything and...show more content... He probably thinks it's the Duchess own fault for her death because he was very annoyed with her attitude towards everything and couldn't tell her. "Who'd stoop to blame this sort of trifling?" (Browning30) Even thought he is so bothered by her behavior he thinks he shouldn't have to lower himself to talk to her about it. There was lack of communication in their marriage and he never expressed his feelings about his wives demeanor to her, due to his poor communication skills. As he stated: "Even had you skill In speech– (which I have not) – to make your will Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, Or there exceed the mark"– and if she let Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop."
(Browning 40) In this the murderer arrogantly states what he wanted from her and how he had no "Skills in speech" in which to tell the Duchess but he clearly tells the envoy how he feels, so he is clearly lying to the
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