MY LAST DUCHESS
ROBERT BROWNING
BIOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND
ROBERT BROWNING (1812 - 1889) was born in Camberwell, London. His father was an important official in a bank and was able to have his son educated by a series of private tutors.
He entered the London University, but dropped out in his second year.
Browning travelled extensively on the Continent but lived in London until his marriage to
Elizabeth Barrett, the famous poetess, in 1846, It changed the course of his life. For the sake of her health they moved to Florence in Italy where they lived for many years.
Following his wife's death in 1861, he returned to London, where he remained, with occasional visits to the Continent, until his death in Venice. He is buried in the Poet's Corner in Westminster
Abbey.
THE NATURE OF BROWNING'S POETRY
Browning ranks with Tennyson as one of the two greatest poets of the Victorian era. But unlike
Tennyson, Browning had to struggle against a storm of criticism for nearly 40 years before his worth was fully recognised.
What chiefly interested Browning was the study of the human soul. Consequently it is in his dramatic lyrics and monologues that he is most often at his greatest. Much of his other poetry is obscure and difficult to understand.
"The Ring and the Book" (1868 - 9), a series of dramatic monologues in which the various characters portray themselves by their own words, is generally thought to be his masterpiece.
THEME Recounting how a *domineering, *brutal husband had his *exuberant but *unser-vile wife murdered. domineer: make other people do what one wants them to do brutal: cruel, inhuman, exuberant: full of life, unservile not being like, a slave
TYPE Dramatic monologue
STRUCTURE .
1. The poem consists of 56 lines rhyming in pairs or couplets. Nevertheless, it has a smooth rhythm as the sense usually runs over from the second line of each couplet to the first line of the next one.
2. It is a DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE, i.e. it is a 'conversation' in which there are an ACTIVE
SPEAKER or NARRATOR and a PASSIVE LISTENER.
The topic is some dramatic moment or some crisis in the life of the speaker.
The speaker unconsciously reveals his or her character by what he or she says.
Although the listener does not play an active part in the monologue, he or she does contribute to the development of the poem. contribute to: play a part -in
NOTE 1: (a) Browning was the first English poet who used the technique of the dramatic monologue successfully.
(b) he was deeply interested in the Renaissance and made a deep study of its art and culture.
Apart from that he was a keen student of psychology and had a passion for analysing the psychological depths of a man's soul. His characters are seldom famous people, they are usually eccentrics with some inherent weakness which is revealed in the course of the monologue. eccentric: a person with unusual or peculiar habits/ behaviour
(a) In 'My last duchess' the speaker is a duke, a widower,

duchess: the wife of a duke
duke: a nobleman of the highest rank, next below a prince, widower: a man who has lost his wife by death and not married again who is addressing the envoy of a count whose daughter he is about to marry The duke is showing the agent some of his art treasures, among which is a beautiful painting of his late wife. envoy: an agent sent by one person to speak on his behalf to another person, count: the title of a
European nobleman late: no longer living lines 1-13
The Duke points proudly to the portrait of his late wife hanging on the wall. In his opinion it is a masterpiece because it is so *lifelike. He seems amazed that the artist, *Fra Pandolf, was able to complete this work of art in a single day. lifelike: very much like the real person
Fra: the shortened form of Frate, i.e. brother. The title of a priest
He invites his guest to sit down on a nearby chair and study the painting. He adds that he mentioned Fra Pandolf deliberately, because strangers who see the painting always ask him the same question the envoy has just asked.
After studying the painting, the Duke's guests *invariably turn to him and seem to want to ask him how the artist succeeded in *capturing the depth of character and the *passion which are so plainly to be seen in the Duchess's earnest eyes. invariably: always, without exception capture: paint the face of the Duchess exactly as it was. passion: great depth of feeling earnest: thoughtful, sincere
The Duke reminds the envoy that nobody else but he has the right to draw the curtains covering his late wife's portrait. And only the bravest of his visitors dared to ask him the question about the painting. Therefore the agent is not the first to make such an inquiry.
NOTE 2: (a) "I call that piece A WONDER
Will't please you sit and look at HER?"
It is typical of the Duke that the painting is more wonderful to him than the real woman was. He loves showing it to his guests and boasting about it. boast: talk too proudly
(b) "FRA PANDOLF ..."
Evidently the friar was a famous artist of that time - It is proved by the fact that he could produce such a masterpiece in only a single day.
On the other hand, it is quite possible that the Artist was given only one day by the jealous Duke to finish the painting
(a) "... the DEPTH and PASSION of its EARNEST glance ..."
This is our first indication as to the late Duchess's character : apart from being beautiful, she had a depth of character and a thoughtful but passionate nature that her husband never understood or appreciated. passionate: easily giving way to strong feelings, e.g. enthusiasm, friendship, love, etc.
(d) "... NONE puts by the CURTAIN I have drawn for you,' BUT I ..."
The Duke also reveals his character by what he says:
Throughout the monologue the Duke hints very broadly to the envoy at what he will expect from his future wife.

(i) He is still obsessed by his late wife and hides her painting behind a curtain which he will not allow anybody else to draw. obsess: fill someone's mind continuously
(ii) He discusses her beauty in a calm, unemotional way. This shows that he thought upon her, as he does of the painting, merely as one of his possessions, not as a loving and beloved wife.
(iii) He is the arrogant martyr of his own household : he boasts that only the very brave have ever dared to question him about the painting. arrogant: proud and self-important in a rude way that shows no respect for other people.
Lines 13 - 24
The Duke informs the envoy quite calmly and unfeelingly that it was not her husband's presence only that raised that flush of pleasure on the late Duchess's check - the blush captured so brilliantly by Fra Pandolf.
Perhaps that blush was called up by the artist commenting that the sleeve of her mantle overlapped her wrist too much or that mere paint could not hope to reproduce the delicate halfblush that faded along her throat.
His late wife was foolish enough to notice and be thankful for such compliments and courtesies and the slightest attention paid to her was sufficient to cause her to blush with pleasure.
According to the Duke, his last Duchess had an appreciative nature and was too easily impressed. Besides, she was foolish enough to like everything she saw around her and her eyes roamed everywhere, eager to see something to admire. stuff: nonsense, silliness
NOTE 3: (a) ". .. 'tags NOT
HER HUSBAND'S PRESENCE ONLY, called that spot Of JOY into the Duchess ' cheeks ..."
This reveals the Duke's fiercely possessive attitude towards his wife -he expected his wife to concentrate her whole being on himself only, and not to pay any attention to anybody or anything else.
In the Middle Ages a wife was looked upon merely as one of her husband's possessions, like his horses, cattle, etc.
(b) "... such STUFF was COURTESY, she thought..."
Unwillingly the Duke reveals his late wife's character in great detail : she was aware of and thankful for little courtesies which she could have regarded as her right.
(a) "She had a HEART TOO SOON MADE GLAD.,."
In these lines the Duke intends to make out that his wife had a frivolous nature, but he reveals directly the opposite, i.e. her joyful response to everything around her which forms a sharp contrast to her husband's self-centredness and self-importance . make out: say or pretend falsely that somebody is a bad person, frivolous: silly, liking to spend time in light, useless pleasures
Lines 25 - 34
The Duke states that his late wife had no *powers of discrimination. power of discrimination: being able to tell the difference between two or more things or people, so as to choose the best
To her everything and everybody was the same: a present from the Duke himself pinned to her dress, the glowing colours of the sunset, a twig of cherry blossoms that some *meddlesome fool had picked for her in the Duke's orchard, or the white mule that she rode on round the garden

terraces. She approved equally of all these things or at least blushed with pleasure at each of them. officious: too ready to offer help/service meddlesome: busying oneself with or taking an interest in something which has nothing to do with one
The late Duchess did thank other men for small gifts which she had received from them. But she was so warmly grateful to them that she did not seem to realize the vast difference between ordinary men such as her friends and her husband whose family could trace its history back for nine hundred years : she thought equally much of their presents and the Duke's gifts.
NOTE 4: (a) ". .. 'twas ALL ONE ..."
The Duke remarks that his late wife was so frivolous that anything and anybody pleased her very much.
According to his strict code his wife should have been completely colourless. Instead she was vivacious•, excitable and childlike, but utterly honest, sincere and faithful. vivacious: gay, full of life and high spirits
(b) "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. "
The Duke reveals that he was intensely jealous of and proudly possessive and domineering towards his wife: he expected her to devote all her attention to him only, but in her gentle way she firmly opposed his efforts to dominate her and went her way.
Note the effect of the exclamation 'GOOD'. ' in this contest: she could not or did not want to live up to this high ideal that her self centred husband had set up in his mind. went her way: did as she planned.
His intense family pride also becomes evident : he is so deeply aware of his proud lineage that he looks down on all other men with a deep contempt. lineage: the line of one 's forefathers look down on: have a low opinion of somebody else
Lines 34 - 47
The Duke states that nobody with his proud name would ever *degrade himself by trying to explain to such a frivolous creature as the late Duchess that she was acting foolishly. degrade: lose one's self-respect by doing something unworthy, stoop: lower oneself by doing some unworthy action
If one had the ability, which the Duke himself did not have, to choose the right words to make it clear to a *light-headed woman what aspects of her character were disgusting or what actions of her were wrong, and she paid heed to one's instructions and changed her ways, all might have been well. light-headed: foolish, thoughtless
But what if she dared to argue and made excuses; then the situation would have become intolerable. Even such an explanation would have meant that the Duke would have had to degrade himself and he had never stooped to anybody. intolerable: too difficult painful be borne
The Duchess smiled at her husband whenever they passed each other somewhere in the palace, but she smiled a greeting in much the same way at everybody whom she met.
As time went by matters grew worse, therefore the Duke gave the necessary others and she suddenly stopped smiling for ever.
But, the Duke concluded, there she stands against the wall on the painting, blushing prettily as if she were alive.

NOTE 5: (a) "Who'd STOOP to BLAME this sort of TRIFLING?... "And I choose NEVER TO
STOOP. "
Nothing else in the poem better illustrates the Duke's intense, relentless arrogance and pride : rather than degrade himself by explaining to his wife, whom he calls 'such a one', that her behaviour displeased him, he had her murdered.
(b) "... but who passed without much the same smile?"
Again the Duchess 's friendly, open nature is revealed indirectly.
It is an important feature of this monologue that the Duke discloses as much about the character of his murdered wife as about his own nature.
(a) "I gave COMMANDS then ALL SMILES STOPPED TOGETHER. "
The casual and callous way in which the Duke confesses that he had his wife murdered increases the horror of the announcement and stresses the futility and tragedy of the death of this exuberant, friendly and delightful woman. casual: showing no sense of responsibility, callous: unfeeling exuberant: overflowing with life and cheerful excitement
(d) "There she STANDS AS IF ALIVE."
The Duke ends his account with this IRONIC COMMENT: the portrait is so lifelike that she will live for ever in spite of the fact that she was murdered.
The sense of tragedy is heightened by the ANTITHESIS in Lines 45-47 : instead of remembering his late wife., in the PALENESS OF DEATH the Duke will always be tortured by the FLUSH
OF PLEASURE on her cheek on the painting.
We remember that the Duke was so obsessively jealous and possessive with regard to the painting that he hid it behind a curtain which only he himself was allowed to draw.
Lines 47-56
The Duke invites the agent to rise and go downstairs with him to join the rest of the company gathered there.
While they are walking down the stairs the Duke reminds the envoy that his master the Count is well-known for his *generosity and that is sufficient guarantee that any fair claim of the Duke's on an *ample *dowry will be met. generosity: munificence, showing readiness to give -somebody else money, presents, etc. ample: large, dowry: the money, property, etc. that a woman brings to her husband in marriage
He admits however, that the Count's beautiful daughter is the one he is really after, as he has stated from the first.
Again the Duke invites the emissary to go downstairs with him. On their way down the stairs he proudly points to a beautiful bronze *statuette of Neptune taming a seahorse, a masterpiece, which the famous sculptor, Claus of Innsbruch has sculpted for him. statuette: a small statue rarity: something uncommon a masterpiece
NOTE 6: (a) "... NO JUST PRETENCE of mine for DOWRY will be disallowed ..."
It is now revealed that the LISTENER is an agent acting on behalf of a rich count whose daughter the Duke is planning to marry.

The envoy has evidently some to make the final arrangements with the Duke regarding the dowry, the wedding, etc.
In Europe in the Sixteenth century marriages were arranged between the father of the girl and her husband-to-be or his parents; the bride-to-be had no say in the matter
The father of the bride had to pay his future son-in-law as big a dowry as his circumstances allowed.
(b) "... the Count your master's MUNIFICENCE..."
The Duke is not above stooping to flattery while bargaining with the agent for the best possible dowry from the Court. flattery: praising someone too much or insincerely in order to please him
(a) "... though his FAIR DAUGHTER'S SELF is MY OBJECT... "
The Duke is a hypocrite:
(i) he is openly bargaining for the best possible dowry from his future father-in-law, hypocrite: one who falsely puts on an appearance of goodness
(ii) he pretends to be deeply in love with the Count's daughter, but has just told the emissary that he had his late wife murdered because she was not sufficiently servile towards him. servile: being without independence and self-respect; like a slave
(d) "Nay, we'll go TOGETHER DOWN ..."
This is evidently an answer to a question asked by the envoy.
What was the question? Is this statement merely a casual reply to a casual question or does it have a deeper significance?
One possible interpretation is that the agent is so deeply struck by the lovely painting of the late
Duchess that he has asked the Duke's permission to remain there a bit longer in order to admire it
(e) "Notice, NEPTUNE, though, TAMING a sea-horse..."
This seeming casual reference to the Neptune statuette is another hint of the Duke's to the envoy that he is to warn the Count 's daughter to be slavishly obedient to her future husband's every wish.
The whole motive behind the Duke's monologue is to make the agent understand how he expects the Count's daughter to behave when they are married: she is to devote herself entirely to her husband, otherwise she will be TAMED (like the sea-horse) or MURDERED ( like the ' last
Duchess ')
QUESTIONS A. GENERAL
1. What type of poem is this?
3. What is this poem's central theme?
4. Who is the duke addressing?
4. How many people are involved in such a conversation?
Lines 1 - 13
5. To what, does the phrase 'ray last Duchess' in Line I refer?
6. (a) Which word in Line 3 shows that the Duke regards the painting as a masterpiece?
(b) Why does he think so highly of it?
(c) What aspect of his character is revealed by this?
7. (a) Who painted the. painting? (b) How long did it take him?
8. What does the Duke invite his guest to do?
9. Why did the Duke mention Fra Pandolf?
10. (a) What question do the Duke's guests ('strangers') always want to ask him?

(b) What indication is given of the late Duchess's character?
11. (a) By what is the painting covered at all times?
(b) Who is the only person who has the right to reveal the painting?
(c) What does this prove about the Duke's (i) .feelings, and (ii) his attitude towards his late wife?
12. (a) What is proved by the following statement: 'if they durst'?
(b) What aspect of the Duke's character' is revealed by this statement?
Lines 13-24
13. (a) What does the Duke tell his guest about 'that spot of joy' on his late wife's cheek?
14. (a) What might have caused the late Duchess to blush?
(b) What Information does the reader gather from this?
15. (al Explain the Duke's, comment that his late wife 'had a heart too soon made glad'.
(b) How does the Duke interpret this facet of her character?
(c) What does it really disclose?
(b.) Does the Duke's remark that 'such -Stuff was courtesy, she thought' tell the reader anything about the late Duchess? lines 25 - 34
16. (a) What does the Duke intend to prove by saying that to his late wife ' 'twas all one'?
(b) How did he expect the Duchess to act?
17. Name the things of which the Duke's late wife approved or which caused her to blush with pleasure.
18. How did she react to gifts received from other men?
19. (a) What was the Duke's 'gift1 to her?
(b) What facet of his character is exposed by this?
20. Briefly describe the difference in outlook of husband and wife.
21. (a^ In what way would the Duke never degrade himself?
(b) How does this illustrate his arrogance and pride?
22. What did the Duke not have the 'skill in speech' to do?
23. What would have been intolerable?
24. Explain each of the following in your own words:
(a) 'e 'en then would be some stooping'; (b) 'I choose never to stoop'.
25. How did the late Duchess react whenever she met:
(a} her husband, and, (b) anybody else in the palace?
26. Explain the image of 'this grew in your own words.
27. (a) What orders were given by the Duke?
(b) What effect did that have on his wife?
28. What is stressed by the Duke's unfeeling announcement that he had his late wife murdered?
29. (a) What is the Duke's concluding remark?
(b) What antithesis is found in Lines 45-47.
Lines 47 - 56
30. What does the Duke Invite his guest to do?
31, Explain Lines 49 - 51 in your own words.
32. (a) What false confession does the Duke make?
(b) What aspect of his character Is exposed by this?
33. (a) What other work of art does the Duke show the envoy?

(b) What is its implication?