My last duchess

1. My Last Duchess
Robert Browning
English Literature GCSE
Examination

2. My Last Duchess
Dramatic monologue
Speaker is the Duke of Ferrara - a
Renaissance nobleman
Reveals himself through what he
has to say; in his choice of topic;
manner of speech; and attitude to
listeners

3. Dramatic monologue
The poem is of the type called a
dramatic monologue because it
consists entirely of the words of a
single speaker
The Duke reveals his nature and
personality through the way he
speaks.
A dramatic monologue shows the
psychology of the speaker to the
reader.

4. My Last Duchess
Speaks informally to a social
inferior
the representative of a wealthy
Count, whose daughter the Duke
hopes to marry
most of the poem is spent talking
about his last Duchess

5. My Last Duchess
Based on incidents in the life of
Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara in Italy.
The duke's first wife, Lucrezia, died
in 1561 — after they'd been
married for 3 years.

6. That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Immediately we
learn that the
“last” Duchess
is dead
Immediately we
learn that the
“last” Duchess
is dead
Fra Pandolf is
the artist who
painted the
portrait
Fra Pandolf is
the artist who
painted the
portraitWhat is the force
of the word
“now” in the
third line? Note
how he pauses
slightly before
saying it!
What is the force
of the word
“now” in the
third line? Note
how he pauses
slightly before
saying it!

7. Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
'Fra Pandolf' by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of that earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The 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.
face
face
dared
dared
Note another
example of the
Duke’s authority
and arrogance
Note another
example of the
Duke’s authority
and arrogance
He knows people
are in awe or fear
of him
He knows people
are in awe or fear
of him

8. Sir, 'twas not
Her husband's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps
Fra 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
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy.
He refers to himself in
the third person - very
distant and formal!
He refers to himself in
the third person - very
distant and formal!
His jealousy begins to emerge:
His jealousy begins to emerge:
The blush may have been
caused by some polite
compliment paid by the artist
The blush may have been
caused by some polite
compliment paid by the artist
cloak
cloak

9. 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.
He hesitates
before expressing
his disapproval
He hesitates
before expressing
his disapproval
Are these criticisms
euphemisms for
some greater fault?
Or is he just absurdly
jealous?
Are these criticisms
euphemisms for
some greater fault?
Or is he just absurdly
jealous?
We only have the Duke’s word for this. He
appears to be ridiculously possessive
We only have the Duke’s word for this. He
appears to be ridiculously possessive

10. 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 white mule
She rode with round the terrace - all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least.
He clearly resents that she
does not regard his gift ...
He clearly resents that she
does not regard his gift ...
… as being more important
than the sunset, a present of
cherries, or her whilte mule
… as being more important
than the sunset, a present of
cherries, or her whilte mule
Note his
contemptuous
expression
Note his
contemptuous
expression
A gift, perhaps a
brooch
A gift, perhaps a
brooch

11. She thanked men, - good! but thanked
Somehow - I know not how - as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody's gift.
Again he hesitates to
put his anger into
words
Again he hesitates to
put his anger into
words
But here is his main
criticism - couched in
typically arrogant
language
But here is his main
criticism - couched in
typically arrogant
language

12. -
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.
truly - (an archaic
expression)
truly - (an archaic
expression)
He considers it
beneath him to have
to put his displeasure
into words
He considers it
beneath him to have
to put his displeasure
into words
The last phrase
shows him to be
utterly unbending
The last phrase
shows him to be
utterly unbending

13. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed her, but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive.
It seems he did
not even notice
her smiles
It seems he did
not even notice
her smiles
These short phrases are
utterly chilling. In another
euphemism he more or
less admits that he had her
murdered - for smiling at
other people!
These short phrases are
utterly chilling. In another
euphemism he more or
less admits that he had her
murdered - for smiling at
other people!
This is almost a
repetition of the
second line - a
reminder that
she is dead
This is almost a
repetition of the
second line - a
reminder that
she is dead

14. 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
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object.
The viewing of the
portrait is over
The viewing of the
portrait is over
His language becomes
very tortuous as he
touches on the subject
of the dowry his
prospective new bride
may bring!
His language becomes
very tortuous as he
touches on the subject
of the dowry his
prospective new bride
may bring!
a gift given by the
bride’s family in an
arranged marriage
a gift given by the
bride’s family in an
arranged marriage
generosity
generosity
His final comment
sounds like an after-
thought. How
convincing is it?
His final comment
sounds like an after-
thought. How
convincing is it?

15. Nay, we'll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Roman god of
the sea
Roman god of
the sea
The second word of the
poem was ‘my’; the last
one is ‘me’. The Duke is
completely self-centred.
The second word of the
poem was ‘my’; the last
one is ‘me’. The Duke is
completely self-centred.

16. Written in heroic couplets
Although it rhymes, the frequent enjambement
means the rhyming is not intrusive
Tone is formal even if conversational
Use of elision eg ‘twas not’, ‘whene’er’
Use of archaism eg ‘forsooth’

17. Duke repeatedly reveals his arrogant egotism:
‘my last Duchess’
‘none puts by/The curtain I have drawn for you,
but I’
‘My favour at her breast’
‘My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name’
‘cast in bronze for me!’

18. Wife linked to images of freedom:
‘she liked whate’er she looked on’
‘the faint/Half-flush that dies along her throat’
‘bough of cherries’
‘white mule’
Duke associated with images of restriction:
‘I choose/Never to stoop’
‘I gave commands’
He seems more comfortable with her portrait
than he was with the living woman!