In this poem, the Duke states that he is entertaining an emissary who has come to negotiate his marriage to the daughter of another powerful family. As he guides the visitor through his palace, the Duke shows the Count of Tyrol a portrait of his late wife, who died in 1564 he says to him “Will’t please you sit and look at her? (5). While discussing the portrait with his visitor, the duke also discusses his relationship with his deceased wife reminiscing about her disgraceful, unappreciative, and flirty behavior. The Duke explained to his guest “she like whate’er / she looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Davaris Brown Professor Johnson English 1102 18 April 2012 Explication of “My Last Duchess” This narrative poem is about a Duke who is looking at a picture of his dead Duchess. He talks about the portrait on the wall of her, which he admires. The Duke thinks about how the Duchess compares everything to him. The death of the Duchess shows another side of the Duke which started to show while he’s talking and is unrevealed at the end. The Duke thinks he is bigger than God and also a jealous and possessive man.
The poem ‘My Last Duchess’ was written by Robert Browning in the year of 1842. ‘My Last Duchess’ was based on a true story about the narrator Duke Alfonso, who ruled Ferrara which was located in Northern part of Italy in 1559 until 1597. Lucretia was Duke’s wife who had died due to a suspicious event and which could have been poisoned by the husband Duke. The Duke is trying to convey a message through a picture of his later wife to his messenger, which in the message remarked her stained character. This is shown through the quote ‘will’t please you sit and look at her’.
I will be analyzing the monologue/poem “My last Duchess” by Robert Lowry. The purpose of this monologue is to convey to the reader the Dukes sense of arrogance, spite and possessiveness towards his estranged wife, which is referred to in the title as his “Last Duchess”. In the first line, it says “That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall”. This line gives the reader an idea that the setting of the monologue is taking place within the main characters quarters or house. It appears as if he is speaking to a person who is visiting his house for the first time.
Robert Browning’s poetry - “My last duchess” Introduction His poem is based on historical events involving Alfonso, the Duke of Ferrara, who lived in the 16th century. The Duke is the speaker of the poem, and tells us he is entertaining an emissary who has come to negotiate the Duke’s marriage to the daughter of another powerful family. As he shows the visitor through his palace, he stops before a portrait of the late Duchess. The Duke begins reminiscing about the portrait sessions, then about the Duchess herself .He begins to act disgraceful: he claims she flirted with everyone and did not appreciate his “gift of a nine-hundred-years- old name.” As his monologue continues, the reader realizes with ever-more certainty that the Duke in fact caused the Duchess’s early demise: when her behavior escalated. Having made this disclosure, the Duke returns to the business at hand: arranging for another marriage, with another young girl.
What is significant about this extract at this point in the novel? You should comment closely in Bronte’s uses of form structure and language as well as subject matter. In this extract we are presented with a softer side to Mr. Rochester. He trusts Jane enough to confide in her about his ‘Grande Passion’ towards Céline Varens and how Adele came to be reliant on his care. In the Victorian era this would be seen as a scandal, so the very fact that Rochester is telling Jane, means she is of significant importance to Rochester, and he has placed a large amount of trust in her.
Rhetorical Analysis of Advice to a Friend on Choosing Mistress Advice to a Friend on Choosing Mistress is a letter written by Benjamin Franklin in June 25th 1745 to his friend. The speech of this letter is essentially communicated to single men. The author gave advices particularly to his friend on which type of woman he should date if he is not ready to get married. Franklin preceded his lustful consulting by an apology for the marriage, recalling his friend how much carnal pleasures are favourable in a legal and recognized union. In his message, Franklin advises his friend that marriage is the best solution not for only sexual desires but also the undisputable source of solid happiness.
My Last Duchess is written by Robert Browning in 1842. A dramatic monologue of the Duke of Ferrara presents his best side to the agent of the count of Tyrol when he tries to talk about his previous wife. Set in iambic pentameter, AABB rhyme scheme along with other techniques such as enjambment and caesura, the poem reveals qualities about the speaker and his situation. The reader might be drawn to the conclusion that the speaker has something to do with his wife’s death as revealed in his confusing speech and actions throughout the poem. The dramatic monologue exposes the speaker’s true personality and his situation more than he aims to say both to the agent and the reader The Duke of Ferrara seems to be controlling in nature; he tries to control everyone he is comes to term with, like he controls the actions of the agent : “Will’t please you sit and look at her”, “Will’t please you rise?” and “Nay, we’ll go/ Together down, sir” .
Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue uttered by the Duke of Ferrari which highlights the jealous and sadistic nature of his character and the mysteriousness which surrounds his late wife’s demise. The poem starts with him drawing the attention of the person whom he is talking to, who is, as one later finds out, a messenger from the Count’s family whose daughter’s hand the duke seeks in marriage; to the portrait of his late wife on the wall. The duke praises the work of the painter, Fra Pandolf, who had spent a whole day slaving over the painting to make it look so lifelike. He instructs the messenger to sit down, and goes on to describe how anyone who has ever seen that picturesque expression on his lady’s painted face, has never failed to ask him, as he has always been present for no one dares to draw the curtain from the painting except him, the reason behind the lively expression. He then thinks about his late wife, remembering that it wasn’t just his company which made her blush.
Critical Essay My Last Duchess – Ferrara Robert Browning has created a perfect blend of form and content in his poem, ‘My Last Duchess’. The poetic techniques used allowed me, as the reader, to become involved in this poem and also contribute to an engaging read. Through using key techniques Browning brought to me a deeper appreciation of this poem, and in this essay I will study these further. The poem concerns the character, the Duke of Ferrara who is giving a tour of his manner to an envoy, who has been sent to negotiate a dowry for the marriage of his master’s, the count’s, daughter to the Duke. He stops at a painting of his late wife, his ‘last Duchess’ and begins a speech of which he is recanting his thoughts of her.