Poetry Notes And Analysis Homework Help Essay

Poetry Notes And Analysis Homework Help

Notes on Browning’s
“My Last Duchess”
Robert Browning (1812-1889) was an English poet who became famous for the dramatic monologue, a narrative by one person who reveals his or her character by telling a story. “My Last Duchess,” one of his most famous dramatic monologues, set a pattern for many poets of the twentieth century.

Browning set this poem in the Italian Renaissance days of Machiavelli, the Borgias, and the Medici, when court intrigues among the kings, queens, and dukes were part of a shifting political landscape as aristocratic families murdered, manipulated, and married their way into power. Marriage was often a means to money and influence, and dowries were expected as the bride’s family contributed a generous portion of worldly property to the new union.

This monologue implies that the Duke of Ferrara is entertaining the representative of a count, an advisor helping arrange a marriage. The Duke reveals more than he realizes as he meets with the Count’s advisor.

“My Last Duchess”—Robert Browning

FERRARA

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.

Will ‘t please you sit and look at her? I said 5

“Fra Pandolf ” by design, for never read

Strangers like you that pictured countenance,

The depth and passion of its earnest glance,

But to myself they turned (since none puts by

The curtain I have drawn for you but I) 10

And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst*, *dared

How such a glance came there; so, not the first

Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ‘twas not

Her husband’s presence only, called that spot

Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps 15

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 20

For calling up that spot of joy. She had

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

Too easily impressed; she liked what’er

She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.

Sir, ‘twas all one! My favor at her breast, 25

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, 30

Or blush, at least. 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. Who’d stoop to blame

This sort of trifling*? Even had you skill 35 *jesting, toying, or

In speech—(which I have not)—to make your will flirting

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 40 *taught

Her wits to yours, forsooth*, and made excuse, *in truth

–E’en* then would be some stooping; and I choose *even

Never to stoop. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,

Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without

Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands; 45

Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands

As if alive. Will ‘t please you rise? We’ll meet

The company below, then. I repeat,

The Count your Master’s known munificence* * lavish generosity

Is ample warrant that no just pretense* 50 *request or claim

Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;

Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed,

At starting, is my object*. Nay, we’ll go *goal

Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,

Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, 55

Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

Commentary

In lines one through ten, the “last duchess” in the fresco on the wall portrays the deceased wife that the duke describes to this advisor. The Duke’s attitude toward the portrait speaks of his feelings for his late wife. It is noteworthy that the Duke has placed a curtain over the portrait to control access to her likeness. He makes a point to mention the name and skill of the artist and the curious “countenance” of the woman in the painting. Her look suggests the suggestive smile of a Mona Lisa, and this leads the Duke down memory lane.

Lines 11-30 record a shift: This aristocrat exposes annoyance at the lady’s constantly ready and accessible smile and “A heart … how shall I say … too son made glad,/ Too easily impressed” by artist, nature, or “fool.”

Lines 31-44 express how the lordly Duke chafes at the memory of how she acted “as if she ranked/ My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name/ With anybody’s gift.” He suggests that she might have been “lessoned” or taught more respect (though readers may note thatthis might have lessened her natural joy and celebration of life). But he says, “I choose never to stoop.”

Browning may intend the lessoned/ lessened pun to show how the lady’s open heart would take on the snobbery and pretense of the Duke—if he had his way.

In lines 45-47, the Duke now revels in his assertion of final control: “I gave commands;/ Then all smiles stopped,” implying a sudden demise. And there is no sign of remorse, since “There she stands/ As if alive.” [Is he preening and posing as one who gets what he wants? Or is he just orally processing an inner satisfaction?]

The succeeding lines 48-53 return to the present business, as the Duke notes “The Count your Master’s known munificence/ Is ample warrant” of a fair dowry in the upcoming marriage. Munificence is lavish generosity—which the Duke himself so lacks. This is implied not only in the past treatment of his late wife, but in the description of his wife-to-be as “my object”—for the Duke shows a very detached conscience in regard to his last soul mate as a castoff object, no more.

In lines 53-54, the reader can infer the advisor’r reaction to the former duchess’ death when the Duke stops a quick retreat—“Nay, we’ll go / Together down, Sir!” This advisor, possibly a type of consigliere to his Count, does not want to stay. [Why is this family representative so ready to leave? Is he getting cold feet about this marriage-merger?]

Lines 54-56 indicate that the Duke appears oblivious to this shift, still dropping names and bragging about another piece of art. He points out “Neptune,” who is “Taming a sea-horse,” which reflects his own unctuous, smug, self-satisfied dominance of all in his domain. His attitude, like his sculpture, seems “cast in bronze.”

Although—or because—the Duke allows no one else to speak, he seems unaware that this former wife may truly be his “last duchess.”

The reader, placed in the role of his audience (the count’s advisor), can understand more about the Duke than the autocrat knows of himself.

How would you describe the Duke and his attitude toward people?

How is the poem revealing layers of dramatic irony and symbols?

Poetry Notes And Analysis Homework Help Essay

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