Abstract This paper examines Robert Browning's long monologue poem, "My Last Duchess" and analyzes the character of Duke Alfonso. The paper examines how the Duke's speech reveals a soul devoid of human feeling.
From the Paper "In Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess," the duke gives a chilling speech that reveals a soul devoid of love, tenderness or any human feeling at all. His only concerns are related to how he feels, how he appears to others and whether or not he is in control. The title "My Last Duchess" implies that he has had a succession of wives and that this is the most recent."
Tags: Robert Browning, My Last Duchess, insanity, control
Abstract The paper examines the poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning, specifically looking at the relationship of the narrator, the Duke Ferrara, to his previous wife. The paper describes how the Duke is discussing a painting of his wife and her faults and misdemeanors that led to him putting her to death. The paper discusses that the Duke makes his expectations of his next wife as a beautiful, thankful object clear to the listener.
From the Paper "In the poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning, the author ostensibly depicts a man discussing a painting with another observer. While this may appear to be the case on the surface level, there is much more going on in this poem. In discussing the painting, the narrator, Ferrara, provides the reader with a much more gruesome portrait than just that of his previous wife. From various details in the poem, we will see that the narrator provides evidence that he thinks of women as merely objects and that his previous wife died by the narrator's command. The elements in the text that will be discussed are the "spot of joy" captured in the painting, the last Duchess' smile, the gifts her husband mentions and the statue of Neptune the Duke points out at the end of the poem."
Abstract Concentrating specifically on the Duchess herself in "The Duchess of Malfi", this paper explores both her social and political transgressions that ultimately cause her tragic death. The author of the paper challenges Bartel's assertion that there is 'no escape for those subjects who show remarkable autonomy before they go', by concentrating specifically on the events surrounding the death of the Duchess. The author further attempts to demonstrate how the Duchess' 'remarkable autonomy' continues, even at the time of her death, leaving her the most powerful figure in the play.
From the Paper "The Duchess of Malfi has been compared to the real lives of Arbella Stuart, and Catherine of Valois. All were noble women in socially isolated environments, each was at the mercy of more powerful male relative(s), and all three wanted to remarry but were forbidden to do so, yet each insisted on marrying anyway. Further to this, each married not only the man of her choice, but also someone beneath her on the social scale, resulting in each being persecuted."
Abstract The paper analyzes how, in "My Last Duchess", Robert Browning presents a complex picture of his two main characters, the Duke and the Duchess. The paper discusses how the poem's representations show that the Duke is far more concerned with controlling the Duchess' behavior than she is with controlling his. The paper also explains that by remaining unaffected by the Duke's strenuous efforts to alter her behavior, the Duchess forces the Duke to take more and more drastic measures like killing her, and she eats away at his ability to even keep control of himself.
From the Paper "In his poem "My Last Duchess", Robert Browning gives his readers a complex picture of his two main characters. The Duke, who narrates the poem, is the most immediately present but Browning sets him up to ultimately lose the reader's trust. The Duchess becomes the sympathetic character, a victim of foul play. It is through the various representations of the Duchess within the poem that we come to know both characters. The representations of the Duchess, which focus on her ever-present smile and easily satisfied nature, come in sharp contrast with the desperate, sputtering language of the Duke as he tries to tell their story on his own terms. This contrast is a manifestation of the Duke's frustration with his inability to control the Duchess and her nonchalant but near-total control over him."
An in-depth analysis of this English Renaissance tragedy, the various factors involved which lead to the tragic ending and the struggle between good and evil.
2,800 words (approx. 11.2 pages), 2 sources, 2001, $ 83.95
Abstract In this paper the author examines the theme of tragedy that runs through this play. In so doing he looks at the primary relationships in the play - the relationship between the Cardinal, the Duchess and Ferdinand and the relationship between the Duchess and Antonio which he suggests is central to the play. He also suggests that the character of Bosola is an additional factor in the events that lead to the tragic end. The author examines each of these factors in turn, looking at the characters involved, their characteristics and the meaning of each factor and concludes by showing, not only how all these events led to the tragic ending, but also what meaning this has for the reader.
From the paper:
?The central tragedy of the play is that of the Duchess. She is represented as a fine woman in terrible circumstances. Her tragic flaw is her need to follow her heart. She defies the reality of the situation and makes the decision to marry Antonio and ultimately suffers for this choice. The tragedy of the situation is that she does nothing wrong. Her relationship with Antonio is pure. Even with the tragedy that results, she accepts this as a consequence of loving Antonio and accepts her fate.?
This paper explores the theme of people inadvertently revealing hidden truths about themselves while talking about things seemingly trivial in Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess".
780 words (approx. 3.1 pages), 0 sources, 2005, $ 27.95
Abstract This paper explains that Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess"
is a dramatic monologue spoken by the Duke of Ferrara. The author points out that, given the title, the poem appears to be about the late wife of the Duke, whose portrait is being shown to a visitor, as the Duke negotiates for his next Duchess; however, the Duke reveals much more about himself and his role as a husband than he does about his late wife. The paper relates that "My Last Duchess", typical of this type of poetry, overtly is about a painting but the covert meaning is confessional. The author underscores that, in the lack of distinction between the portrait and the woman, the Duke reveals his feelings, that women are the possessions of men and are only good for their beauty.
From the Paper "The speaker makes a shift in the poem and goes from discussing the qualities of the painting itself, to making jealous hypotheses about why the woman in the painting is blushing. He also says to his listener "not the first / are you to turn and ask thus" (12-13), but the listener did not ask. This implies that the Duke has been suppressing this jealous rant and has been waiting for an opportunity to let the beast out for a high-spirited run. The fact that he says the listener is not the first to ask is probably more likely to mean that the listener is not the first person the Duke has revealed this to."
The paper looks at the play "Duchess of Malfi" by John Webster, suggesting that through the characters we learn that one's only chance for survival in a hostile world is through the deception of others.
Abstract The writer analyzes the drama, in particular the title character of the duchess. According to the paper, the duchess learns only at her death that the perils of life cannot be masked by deceit. The writer notes that Webster has the ability to create characters evocative of pathos in a way that is similar to Shakespeare.
From the Paper "Following the Duchess's self-deception that an ideal existence for her and her lover is possible is the aforementioned deception of her brothers, the act which leads to her downfall at their merciless hands. In addition to her marriage to Antonio, she must conceal the births of her children from Ferdinand and the Cardinal (She must go so far as to accuse her husband of being a thief!), all the while refusing to acknowledge the danger involved in her actions (Mahaney 167). In response to Antonio's asking "But for your brothers?" (Abrams 1254), the Duchess says, "Do not think of them./All discord without this circumference/Is only to be pitied, and not feared;/Yet, should they know it, time will easily/Scatter the tempest" (1254). Such a reply gives evidence both to her lack of perception of her brothers' intentions, as well as to her lack of introspection in recognizing her own impossible ideals. Only when she is confronted by Bosola, who harshly denies all she believes herself to be (Whitman 154), does the Duchess realize her fallacies of life. She asks Bosola, "Dost know me? Who am I?" (Abrams 1294)."
Abstract In this essay, the writer explains that Robert Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess," is a monologue delivered by the Duke to someone who turns out to be part of a party arranging a new marriage to a new young lady for the Duke. The writer discusses Browning's use of irony throughout the poem. The writer points out that Browning uses irony to chilling effectiveness as he illustrates the Duke's quiet tyranny over his last young wife. The writer concludes that in the greatest irony of all in the poem, it seems that the Duke has caused the careful, measured responses in his Duchess that angered him to the point of murder.
From the Paper "It is a likeness of her. His last Duchess is dead, and he has apparently killed her. He is displaying her picture as part of his shopping expedition for a replacement. In addition, the fact that her likeness hangs on the wall reminds the reader of the practice of hunters who hang the heads of the animals they have killed on the wall for display. The Duke feels very special about this particular prey; most of the time her likeness is concealed behind curtains, which he rarely opens for others. It reminds the reader of modern-day serial killers, who often keep some object as a trophy of their acts."
"The Duke calmly explains why his last Duchess had to die, although he never states the crime itself. His reasons, however, ironically reflect on him and not on his young wife, and suggest a completely egocentric person with a severe case of paranoia."
Abstract This paper is a short discussion of the Robert Browning poem, "My Last Duchess." The author grapples with the idea that the protagonist, Alfonso II -- a past duke of Italy -- replaced his wife with a work of art -- a portrait of her. This action, carried out by the duke after much deliberation, was a direct result of the fact that he wished to possess and manage his wife, like and object, forever, without opposition -- something he could not do while she was alive.
From the Paper "My Last Duchess," written in 1842 by poet Robert Browning, is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker is assumed to be Alfonso II, a past duke of Ferrara, Italy. In this poem, the duke is presenting a portrait of his late wife to an emissary who is attempting to arrange yet another wedding for the duke. Throughout the selection, the duke's overflowing jealousy and fanatical possessiveness towards the woman he is describing are exposed, and his inner emotions even towards the portrait itself are revealed, allowing the reader to clearly perceive the development of the duke's character."
A comparison of how two Victorian poets approach their art, including an analysis of two dramatic monologues: Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess' and Alfred Lord Tennyson's 'Ulysses'.
Abstract This essay describes how Robert Browning in 'My Last Duchess' reveals his theory of art in a more complex manner than the more obvious presentation of Alfred Lord Tennyson as he reveals his poetic pleasures in 'Ulysses.' Both diction and images in both dramatic monologues are closely explored and analyzed.
From the Paper "In delineating the theory of art of these poets, this paper will concentrate primarily on what one dramatic monologue of each of the two poets, Browning and Tennyson, reveals. Both poets are concerned with bringing the feelings and truths of their experience into the hearts and minds of others. A central difference in their theories of art is that Browning puts a greater burden on the reader, while Tennyson feels it vital to be more obvious in expressing his feelings to others. A basic question to consider as we explore their theories of art is: How and why do we enjoy the poems? Understanding our own responses helps us understand their assumptions about art. The aim of both poets is that we lose ourselves within the poem, forgetting for the moment our real surroundings in favor of total immersion in the poetic situation."
Abstract The paper analyzes and assesses the poem by Robert Browning, "The Last Duchess", narrated by the widowed Duke as he looks at the portrait of his wife. The paper explores the Duke's character and his possible relationship with a new wife.
From the Paper "Even though the Duke appears as evil, when we reduce his problems to his two character traits, he becomes less of a villain. We must also place his speech in the context of a man who is looking at the picture of a wife who enraged him. For both the Duke and the Duchess we see their faults are not great, but rather that they were mismatched. The Duchess's kindness to people and eagerness to share her smile with everyone, enraged the Duke's vanity. The situation is less one of evil characters and more one of mismatched characters."
Abstract This paper draws comparisons and notes differences between two poems, "Ulysses" (Alfred Lord Tennyson) and "My Last Duchess" (Robert Browning). The paper shows how both Robert Browning and Alfred Lord Tennyson chose to express their work in the form of a dramatic monologue. Browning writes about the Duke of Ferrara, who is speaking to a servant of his potential father in law. Tennyson's poem concerns the Greek epic hero Ulysses, who, in spite of his old age,speaks of his wish to embark on one last adventure.
From the Paper "Robert Browning writes from history, referring to the Duke of Ferrara, who was suspected of arranging the murder of his wife. In Browning's poem, the Duke is looking for another wife. His interlocutor is the servant of a Count, whose daughter the Duke wishes to marry. By contrast, Tennyson evokes the epic tale of the eponymous hero, but was not inspired by Homer. He instead writes in correlation with the version of Ulysses life told by the Italian poet Dante in his poem Inferno. Ulysses is speaking after his return to Ithaca, and he tells the reader of his dislike of his more sedate retired life as King of Ithaca. Ulysses passionately expresses his wish for one last adventure, explaining Tennyson's view that old age is not necessarily a time to wind down and reflect on past glories."
Abstract This paper analyzes the issues of gender and sexual politics in English playwright John Webster's macabre Elizabethan era tragedy, "The Duchess of Malfi".
Abstract This paper examines parallels between Shakespeare's "Macbeth" and Webster's "The Duchess of Malfi" with respect to the architectural elements within each play which become symbolic of the deception and secretive schemes.
Abstract This paper briefly examines Browning's poem, which is said to reveal the more sinister side of humanity. It discusses Browning's unique poetry style. It explains how, by employing a unique narrative style, irony, and imagery, ?My Last Duchess? illustrates Browning's flexibility and creativity as a poet.
From the Paper "Robert Browning's poetry often revels the more sinister side of humanity. He writes of villains, murderers, and evil people with great imagery. His descriptions allow us to see his characters often in living color. "My Last Duchess" is a poem that sets Browning apart from other writers because it is written in a style that was different than the Victorian poetry of his time. (Abrams 1233) M. H. Abrams states, "Browning draws from a different tradition in English poetry, more colloquial and discordant" (1233). Additionally, Abrams points out that Browning was "interested in exposing the devious ways in which our minds work and the complexity of our motives" (1234) One important aspect of Browning's poetry, according to Abrams, is to determine what has been left out of the story presented to us. (1234) Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess" is an excellent example of how Browning leaves the discovering up to us. Browning employs narration, irony, and imagery to reveal a devious, self-centered Duke."
