My Last Duchess

“My Last Duchess,” by Robert Browning is a clear dramatic monologue used to depict the character of the Duke. The agent seems present although he never participates in the conversation and all parts are spoken by the Duke. The Duke describes some of the agent’s questions and makes the dramatic monologue possible by answering, for example, the questioning glance he gets from the agent about the spot of joy on the duchess cheek. The poem presents the Duke as manipulative, arrogant, self-centered, chauvinistic, jealous, and controlling. All of these characteristics are shown as the Duke discusses the failings and imperfections of his late wife. The Duke unknowingly presents his own failings and imperfections while slandering the name and behavior of his former wife.

During the poem, the Duke tries to portray himself as powerful and successful, but these qualities are contradicted by his speech. Instead of realizing and praising him for his accomplishments, the reader sees through the Duke and realizes that the Duke is simply possessive and jealous. The Duke constantly refers to the Duchess as “My Last Duchess” as if she does not deserve a name because she belongs to him. This is part of his chauvinistic attitude. The Duke does not feel as if women are human but rather objects that need a man to tame them and control their every move. The Duke reveals his jealous streak after discussing the duchess is wandering eyes and smile for everyone. The Duke says, “she smiled, no doubt, /Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without /Much the same smile” (line 44). This upset the Duke because he felt she should not treat everyone else as she treated him. He felt she was ungrateful of the “nine-hundred-years-old name” that he bestowed upon her. Since the Duke felt unappreciated, he directly lashed out and caused all “smiles to cease”. The reader is left to wonder if this line is saying that the Duke ended the life of his duchess because she failed to satisfy his ego. The tone used by the Duke at this point is very ominous and controlling. The readers must decide for themselves what the words “caused all smiles to cease” mean. The tone of the poem indicates that the Duke performed some sort of unthinkable act but it is never revealed. The controlling tone of the Duke takes place because he makes it seem as if anything that is not pleasing to himself, he has the power to cease and change. The irony of the poem surfaces as the reader discovers that the young woman's "faults" were qualities like compassion, modesty, humility, delight in simple pleasures, and courtesy to those who served her. Instead of viewing his wife this way and appreciating her, The Duke instead feels neglected and insulted. The Duke goes on to show that his pride has been injured and that he is jealous when he says, “all and each /Would draw from her alike the approving speech, /Or blush at least. / She thanked men,-good! but thanked /Somehow- I know not how -as if she ranked/My gift of a nine hundred year old name /With anybody’s gift.”(lines 29-34). The Duke shows his arrogant side by acting as if he is better than the rest of the world. He felt as if no one or nothing should be placed on the same level with himself. During the section of the poem, the Duke’s tone is bitter and sarcastic.