Introduction: Second Duchess in “My Last Duchess”
The second duchess in “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning is supposed to be the duke’s wife who is negotiating the arrival of his next duchess with her emissary. Although not much is clear about the painters Robert Browning has named, one thing is certain: the setting of the poem is Ferrara, Italy, in the year 1564 or around. The duke is Alfonso II, according to some researchers, while the victim is Lucrezia de Medici, who is said to have died in mysterious circumstances. The poem explains in the first-person voice how the Duke is negotiating his second marriage with Barbara of Austria, mentioned in the poem as having met her in Innsbruck. Although it seems from the first reading in the initial lines that the speaker, the Duke, is an aesthete and connoisseur of the arts, as he praises the painting too much with the negotiator of Barbara of Austria (Ryals 1983, 152-155), his tone becomes highly ironic and sarcastic when he starts informing him about her little courtesies, which according to him, were tainting his “nine-hundred-years old name” (Browning 33). The Duke further tells him that he could not brook it any longer to let her smile at everybody. Therefore, he orders her execution but tells it ironically and indirectly, “This grew; I gave commands, / Then all smiles stopped together” (45-46). His reminisce ends with his assertion that his order is not just a pretense. Then he takes him to see the statue, Neptune. The poem effectively conveys its theme through the use of dramatic monologue, poetic structure, and the historical account of the cruel treatment and dictatorial attitude of the duke.
Dramatic Monologue in “My Last Duchess”
“My Last Duchess” is written as a dramatic monologue, a form where a single speaker addresses an audience as if engaged in a conversation. In this case, the Duke speaks alone throughout the poem, with the interlocutor being the emissary of the Duchess’s father who has come to negotiate with the Duke. Despite the emissary’s near silence, the poem unfolds as an extended speech by the Duke, incorporating elements characteristic of a formal address or speech, including the use of punctuation, sentence structure, rhetorical questions, and implicit assertions. The poem’s opening, starting with a demonstrative pronoun followed by a personal pronoun, is indicative of a speech. Punctuation is used sparingly to create the impression that the Duke is engaged in a regular conversation, with commas breaking sentences in the fourth and sixth lines. The poem also employs parentheses, as seen in the ninth and tenth lines, and ellipsis in lines 22 and 32. The use of hyphens, such as in “nine-hundred-years-old,” and dashes in lines 36, 42, and elsewhere, contribute to the conversational flow. Browning also uses conventions like quotations and exclamation marks to convey the speaker’s demonstration of feelings and the presence of another person. Rhetorical questions like “Will’t please you rise?” and “This sort of trifling” (22-35 & 47) emphasize the Duke’s authority and power, showcasing how he navigates the conversation. Beyond these conventions, the tone of the speaker aligns with the language, effectively conveying his feelings, emotions, and status through carefully chosen words and the overall poetic structure.
Musicality and Second Duchess in “My Last Duchess”
Written in dramatic monologue, “My Last Duchess” adheres to an iambic pentameter structure, with each line containing five iambs, as seen in the first line, “That is my last duchess painted on the wall” (1). This meter, often used by Shakespeare in his plays, conveys a sense of grandiosity, indicating the serious theme explored by Robert Browning in the poem. Additionally, Browning employs a heroic couplet, where rhyming words conclude each line, as evident in the first two lines and throughout the poem, as seen in the lines “That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf’s hands / Worked busily a day, and there she stands” (3-4). The use of this couplet contributes to the poem’s formal and structured tone. Given its nature as a dramatic monologue, the poem features interruptions in the conversation, marked by breaks or enjambments. This technique allows Browning to create a seamless flow in the narrative, as seen in lines like, “How such a glance came there; so, not the first, / Are you to turn and ask me thus. Sir, t’was not” (12-13). The use of enjambment ensures a smooth reading experience without disrupting the rhyming words, showcasing the poet’s skill in crafting a dramatic monologue.
Poetic Structure and Second Duchess in “My Last Duchess”
The combination of the poetic structure and historical context in “My Last Duchess” accentuates the prominence of its themes. The use of a dramatic monologue, coupled with a first-person perspective, showcases the speaker’s arrogant and haughty attitude, evident in lines like “I call / That piece a wonder,” and “The curtain I have drawn for you,” and “how shall I say?” (1-5 & 22). The narrative also highlights the Duke’s wealth and elevated social status, providing insight into why he considers women as mere objects and narrates stories of their murders in such a disdainful tone. The Duke’s decision to kill the Duchess stems from her displaying a courteous smile to everyone, an act that he finds disagreeable. Browning employs pointed sentences full of sarcasm to convey the Duke’s displeasure, emphasizing how this seemingly innocent smile is perceived as tarnishing their “nine-hundred-years-old name,” alluding to the Duke’s pride and status (33). The use of dramatic irony is particularly evident in the last line, where the Duke emphasizes the known munificence of the Count, the Duchess’s father, suggesting that there is no justifiable reason for her mistreatment (48-49 & 50). The poetic structure, characterized by the dramatic monologue, supports the effective rendering of these themes, allowing readers to delve into the complexities of the Duke’s character and his skewed perspective on power, status, and relationships.
Conclusion: Second Duchess in “My Last Duchess”
In “My Last Duchess,” Robert Browning skillfully employs the dramatic monologue to reveal the inner workings of a character marked by pride, haughtiness, and arrogance, particularly concerning his family name and wealth. The Duke’s personality is effectively portrayed through conversational strategies and literary devices. While Browning incorporates some allusions to enhance the theme, the primary role in depicting the themes is played by the dramatic monologue. Additionally, the poet adeptly employs necessary conventions for a genuine conversation, making it easy for readers to grasp the character’s engagement in negotiating a deal and asserting his sense of self to the emissary.
Second Duchess in “My Last Duchess”: Works Cited
- Browning, Robert. “My Last Duchess.” Reading and Writing about Literature. Ed. Janet E. Gardener. New York. Bedford / St. Martin’s. 60. Print.
- Ryals, Clyde de L. Becoming Browning: The Poems and Plays of Robert Browning, 1833-1846. Ohio. Ohio State University Press. 1983.152-155. Print.
Relevant Questions Selection about “My Last Duchess”
- Motivation Behind the Selection: What motivates the Duke’s decision to choose a second duchess, particularly after the demise of the first? How does his motivation reflect his values, desires, or societal expectations?
- Characteristics Sought in the Second Duchess: What specific qualities or characteristics is the Duke seeking in the second duchess? How do these preferences contribute to the themes of power, control, and the objectification of women within the context of the poem?
- Narrative Implications: How does the Duke’s account of the second duchess shed light on his perceptions of women and relationships? What narrative implications can be drawn from the way he describes the selection process and the expectations he places on the new duchess?