Want this question answered?
The painter of the duchess in the poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is never explicitly named. The poem suggests that the Duke of Ferrara commissioned the painting.
"The Last Duchess" is a poem by Robert Browning that tells the story of a powerful Duke showing a painting of his late wife to a visitor. The Duke reveals his jealousy and control over his wife, ultimately having her killed for not exclusively honoring him. Through the Duke's words, the poem explores themes of power, jealousy, control, and the objectification of women in relationships.
The Duchess displeased the Duke by being too easily impressed and showing appreciation for simple things, such as gifts from others and friendly gestures. This made the Duke feel like she did not value his noble title and status as much as she should have.
1769
In lines 45 and 46 of "My Last Duchess," the duke reveals that he gave commands to stop his late wife's smiles, suggesting that he controlled her behavior even after her death. This illustrates his desire to possess and control her, indicating a possessive and domineering attitude towards his wife.
Robert Browning uses dramatic monologue in "My Last Duchess" to reveal the character of the Duke through his own words and perspective. This technique allows for an exploration of the Duke's personality, motivations, and relationships with others through his speech.
oh sir she smiled... but who passed without much the same smile
In "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning, the Duke of Ferrara describes his late wife, the Duchess, to a visitor. Through the Duke's words, the reader gains insight into the Duke's controlling and possessive nature, as well as his jealousy and arrogance. The poem is a dramatic monologue where the Duke's persona is revealed through his speech.
The Duke is dissatisfied with his last duchess because he felt she was too easily impressed by others and did not appreciate his noble status and exclusive affection towards her. He wanted her to show more gratitude and attention solely to him.
My Last Duchess was created in 1845.
'My Last Duchess' is an example of a dramatic monologue. The speaker, supposedly Alfonso, the Duke of Farara, is describing his late Duchess and is grumbling and complaining about her shortcomings. It is inadvertently revealed through his own speech that the Duke himself, directly or the other way round, had caused the death of the Duchess. It is ironic and surprising to know that the qualities that caused the demise of the Duchess were her natural and universal qualities of love, joy, courtesy towards her well-wishers and compassion. The Duke's complaint of the Duchess flirting with everyone, actually refers to her quality of casual courtesy and response to her well wishers (which was misinterpreted by the Duke). "She smiled somehow, I know not how". The way she smiled at everything and everybody shows her quality of enjoying and being joyful in every thing that comes by her. The way she failed to give exclusive importance to the Duke's "gift of nine-hundred-year-old" legacy, however, is what infuriated him and made him resort to such heinous deed. We are none-the-less made aware that the Duke's decision was no where near being acceptable.
"My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is a dramatic monologue that reveals the psychology of the Duke, who speaks about his late wife. The poem explores themes of jealousy, power, and the objectification of women. Browning's use of dramatic irony and the Duke's unreliable narration create a chilling portrayal of a controlling and possessive character.