Re-`MY Last Duchess

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English Literature

4 October 2008

Character analysis of the Duke in My Last Duchess

Robert Browning encapsulates the cosmos of a character within the microcosm of a moment . His dramatic monologues center on a persona whose dark shades subtly come to light through the commonplace utterances of the speaker . In his famous poem My Last Duchess Browning reveals the psyche of a man , indomitable and arrogant , speaking about his deceased wife before the silent audience of the envoy of the family he wishes to marry into . Unintentionally

the duke exposes his own vices while citing the follies of his erstwhile spouse . The duke 's monologue indicates not only the visage he wishes to display to the world but underlying the literal words , the speech mirrors his underlying moral fiber -- a proud aristocrat who would not stoop Browning 34 ) to rectify his wife 's flaws ( as he reads them , but who would rather crush her innocent life for his faulted sense of noblesse oblige

The character of the Duke comes across powerfully as a typical member of the aristocracy of the Italian Renaissance . Browning was inspired to mould the character of the Duke on the historical personality of Alfonso II , fifth Duke of Ferrara of the Italian Renaissance whose first wife Lucrezia di Cosimo de ' Medici died on suspicious grounds Thereafter , the Duke sought the hand in marriage of Barbara , the niece of the Count of Tyrol . The silent listener , the envoy to whom the duke recounts his narration of his last duchess was possibly the chief of his entourage , Nikolaus Mardruz

The sketch of the speaker is fleshed out into fuller dimensions through the word- painting of the poet . As the duke displays the portrait of his last duchess to the envoy , his image as an art connoisseur is revealed The last two lines reiterate this art - loving sensitivity evidenced in his rare art collections of paintings and priceless sculptures . Even the portrait of the dead Duchess is a collector 's item , a priceless art exhibit for him . The duke is steeped in the pride of his ancient lineage - the nine-hundred-year-old name ( Browning 33 ) and an overbearing personality - he controls the envoys ' reactions , commands him to sit and examine the portrait of the deceased duchess . Nobody has the nerve to question the Duke and his arbitrary actions of self-will

The Duke 's aberrant psychology is glimpsed at by the details of his suspicious mind and enforced possession of all he likes - he employs only a member of the monastic , Fra Pandolf for the portrait assignment of the Duchess within the exceptionally articulate speaker , yet he puts on the mask of false modesty - Even had you skill / In speech-- (which I have not (Browning 35-36 . His eloquent account of his wife 's faults paradoxically reveals the crudity of his own flaws . The depth and passion (Browning 8 ) of her glance seemed a travesty of courtesy expected of a noble woman . His wife 's delight , ardor and...