My Last DuchessIn this poem, Browning creates a character of

chilling coldness and cruelty. The speaker is a Duke who is conducting negotiations for a bride, a new duchess. He is talking with the representatives of potential father in law. Almost casually, he shows them the picture of the ‘last’ duchess whom he had killed because he could not dominate her.

Imagine this scene… A stately home A rich, devastatingly handsome Duke, flowing dark hair,

bright blue eyes, a velvet jacket, an ornately embroidered waistcoat with gold buttons, a walking cane adorned with jewels.

An envoy – a man sent to meet the Duke – a lesser man, smartly dressed but does not have the Duke’s money or charisma and the Duke knows it.

The Duke takes the envoy around his home to show off his art collection, including a portrait of his late wife, the Last Duchess.

Questions How will the Duke speak to the envoy?

Consider not only what he says but how he will say it.

How does the Duke move around the home?

How does the Duke look at the envoy? How will the Duke describe the portrait of

the Last Duchess?

Poetry glossary

Iambic pentametre

1. Metre = measurement of the beats in a line of poetry (to create rhythm)

2. Iamb = a metrical foot of 2 beats with the stress on the second beat (tee –tum)

3. Pentameter = 5 pairs of iambs (typical of Shakespearean sonnets)

My Last Duchess

Robert Browning

listen

My Last Duchess

Ferrara

That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,Looking as if she were alive. I callThat piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's handsWorked busily a day, and there she stands.

Last as in previous – one in a list

Implies that she is dead

Always there forever

An object / work of art

Will't please you sit and look at her? I said

"Frà Pandolf" by design,

Bragging about the artist

Still sees her as a real person.

…for never readStrangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance

Facial expression

A stranger would not be able to ‘read’ her

Makes her sound like a woman of mystery - secrets

But to myself they turned (since none puts byThe curtain I have drawn for you, but I) And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,How such a glance came there; so, not the first

Are you to turn and ask thus.

He has complete control

People are often afraid to ask him

A certain look on her face

…Sir, 'twas notHer husband's presence only, called that spot

Of joy into the Duchess' cheek:

Something appears to have made her blush and look happy

Hint of his jealousy and suspicions

15 : perhapsFra Pandolf chanced to say ‘Her mantle laps‘Over my lady’s wrist too much,’ or Paint‘Must never hope to reproduce the faint‘Half-flush that dies along her throat:’ such stuff

20 Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enoughFor calling up that spot of joy.

cloak

personificaitionOut of place/ suspicious

Good mannersHe felt she controlled her reaction to others’ compliments

Repeated metaphor

parenthesis suggests that he disagreed with her

she had

A heart – how shall I say? – too soon made glad,

Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er

She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.

Sir, ‘twas all one! My favour at her breast,

The dropping of the daylight in the West,

The bough of cherries some officious fool

Broke in the orchard for her, the while mule

She rode with round the terrace -

Punctuation suggests he’s trying to sound polite/ struggles to express irritation

flirtatious

Exclamation suggests this annoyed him

Using authority in a bossy way

Iambic pentameter effective here as no punctuation aids the rhythm reinforces his irritation

Natural objects associated with the Duchess’ happiness. Contrasts with the artificial objects the Duke values.

- all and each

30 Would draw from her alike the approving speech,

Or blush, at least. She thanked men, - good! But

thanked-

Somehow – I know not how – as if she ranked

Again, this idea that she had control over her emotional reaction Suggests jealousy

Contrived

Punctuation suggests he tries to find the right words – not to sound trivial

… She hadA heart -- how shall I say? -- too soon made glad,Too easily impressed; she liked whate'erShe looked on, and her looks went everywhere.

Sir, 'twas all one!

Uses three ways of saying she was easily impressed - suggests he can’t quite put his finger on why

He is annoyed that she responded the same way to all things – was impressed by everything equally

My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old nameWith anybody's gift.

He thinks that the ‘gift’ of his name should be something she valued above all else.

… Who'd stoop to blameThis sort of trifling? Even had you skillIn speech -- (which I have not) -- …

Claims he has trouble expressing himself – so how could he get his point across to her?

35 - to make your will

Quite clear to such a one, and say, ‘Just this

‘Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,

‘Or there exceed the mark’ – and if she let

40 Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set

Her wits to yours, forsooth and made excuse,

Harsh, blunt tone; critical He struggled to

communicate with her

his level of acceptance of her behaviour.

She didn’t give in easily to him

indeed

E'en then would be some stooping, and I choose

Never to stoop.

He would see it as weakness to lower his standards to tolerate her attitude.

… Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,Whene'er I passed her; but who passed withoutMuch the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;

Then all smiles stopped together.

Flirted with other men

Ordered her death?

Dead!

…There she standsAs if alive. …

Reminder that what he looks at now is a picture. He did not manage to control the real Duchess, but has some control over this one.

Further hint that she is dead.

.Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet

The company below, then. I repeat,

The Count your master’s known munificence

Is ample warrant that no just pretence

Again, likes to be in control. Feigns politeness

Reminds envoy of his lowly status

generosity

Frequent ceasura throughout poem emphasise his control over the conversation

Caesura – a grammatical pause or break in a line of poetry

Not all have been privileged to view the portrait

Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowedAt starting is my object.

Plans to take another wife

Words to describe the Duke:

Jealous – ‘a heart how shall I say…’

Ruthless – ‘I gave commands…’

Paranoid/psychotic – ‘half flush…’

Aloof- refused to ‘stoop’

Vain – 900 year old name

Calculatingly intelligent – hired a murderer

Nay, we’ll goDown together, Sir. Notice Neptune, though,Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

God of the sea.

Sees himself as wanting to be like Neptune, in control of his creatures.

Another piece of artwork. This is how he wants his possessions to be – beautiful but lifeless so that he can control them

Questions Who is the Duke of Ferrara talking to in the poem? Why is his guest visiting the Duke of Ferrara? Who painted the picture of the Duke’s late wife? The Duke was not entirely pleased with his late wife, the Last

Duchess. Explain why and what he did about it. What impression of the Last Duchess do you get from the poem?

Write about her as you imagine she might have been. Write about the character of the Duke and compare it with the

character of the poisoner in ‘The Laboratory’. Then compare these two characters with the characters in ‘Hitcher’ by Simon Armitage and Education for Leisure by Carol Ann Duffy.