A Work of Art

Paper Summary:

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."

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