Themes: Pride and Jealousy
“My Last Duchess” centers around a portrait of the eponymous duchess, but the poem itself is a portrait of the jealous duke. Much of the poem’s tension arises from the difference between what the duke intends to convey and what he inadvertently reveals about himself. He tries to characterize the duchess as someone who lavishes attention and praise too broadly, but in doing so, he characterizes himself as a man driven to extremes by possessiveness and pride.
Each episode or vignette the duke tells about the duchess has two sides. When he tells of the duchess’s blush while posing for the painter Fra Pandolf, the duke’s point is that she misinterpreted his comments and was “too soon made glad.” But what he reveals about himself is his own jealousy, his dismay at the fact that “‘twas not / Her husband’s presence only, called that spot / Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek.”
The duke’s jealousy is such that all manner of events that pleased the duchess would give him a commensurate dose of displeasure. In his view, his “favour at her breast” should have been of greater value than a spectacular sunset, a gifted cherry bough, or a beloved pet mule. What emerges is a psychological portrait of pride and self-importance leading to jealousy and murderous resentment.
And yet there is a degree of self-consciousness in the duke’s account, even as he accidentally reveals the depths of his own pride. Indeed, he admits that the duchess’s broad affections were a “trifling” matter, something he could not “stoop to blame.” But here, his pride comes to the surface again, albeit in a different form. His pride stopped him from articulating his hurt feelings to the duchess, for he felt that raising the issue would be beneath him. As a result, those feelings of jealousy and hurt pride continued to simmer and in fact “grew.” Thus, the duke’s pride—which gave rise to his deep resentment but also quelled his ability to express it—led him to have the duchess killed, as the poem strongly implies. In this sense, the poem can be read as a cautionary tale about the consequences of unchecked pride and jealousy.
Expert Q&A
Explain the following lines from the poem "My Last Duchess":
That's my last duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
"Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst
In these lines from Browning's poem "My Last Duchess," the Duke of Ferrara shows a painting of his former wife to his guest. He wants his guest to admire his late wife's beauty and the work of the portrait artist. These lines emphasize the possessiveness that the Duke felt over his wife when she was alive and still feels now that she is dead.
Why was the Duke unhappy with his first wife and what does this reveal about his attitude towards women?
The Duke was unhappy with his first wife because she was easily impressed by others, found joy in everything, and did not prioritize his gifts and status over others. This reveals his attitude towards women as objects meant to display loyalty and gratitude exclusively to him. He expected his wife to appreciate her elevated social status and behave according to his expectations, reflecting his sense of ownership and superiority.
How does Browning present jealousy in "My Last Duchess?"
In "My Last Duchess," Robert Browning presents jealousy through the Duke, whose extreme jealousy led him to murder his wife. The Duke's jealousy is aroused by his wife's interactions with others and her appreciation of simple pleasures. He feels entitled to his jealousy and actions, never considering changing his own attitudes. Instead, he hints that his future Duchess must avoid provoking his jealousy if she values her life.
Why didn't the Duke express his unhappiness with the Duchess's behavior?
The Duke in "My Last Duchess" did not express his unhappiness with the Duchess's behavior because he considered it beneath him to address what he viewed as her trifling faults. He believed that criticizing her would be "stooping" and preferred to maintain his aristocratic pride. Additionally, he felt he lacked the skill in speech to effectively communicate his displeasure.
Can you explain the following lines from "My Last Duchess"?
She rode with round the terrace 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-years-old name With anybody's gift. Who'd stoop to blame This sort of trifling? Even had you skill In speech which I have not to make your will Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this "Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss
The Duke in "My Last Duchess" criticizes his late wife for her friendly and appreciative nature, which he perceives as devaluing his noble status. He admits his inability to communicate his displeasure, fearing she wouldn't understand or change. Ultimately, the Duke's arrogance and inability to appreciate his wife's qualities led him to have her killed, revealing his vulgar and wicked nature.
What flaw does the Duke identify in his last Duchess?
One of the flaws the duke identifies in his last duchess is her being too appreciative of every small gift given to her. He says that she thanked everyone for everything, but the duke wanted the duchess to value him and his gifts to her above everyone else's to gratify his pride, and she did not. This displeased the duke and seemed to him to be a significant flaw.
In "My Last Duchess", is the Duke justifying the murder or boasting about it?
In "My Last Duchess," the Duke appears to be both justifying and boasting about the murder of his former wife. He is not ashamed of his actions and uses the story as a warning to his future Duchess, indicating what he expects from her. The Duke's conversation with the emissary and the tour of the portrait and the Neptune statue symbolize his demand for control and deference, suggesting a clear message for his next wife to heed.
Browning's portrayal of the Duke's treatment of his wife and art collection as objects reflecting his egotism and sense of ownership
Browning portrays the Duke's treatment of his wife and art collection as reflections of his egotism and sense of ownership. The Duke objectifies his wife, treating her as a possession similar to his art collection, showcasing his desire for control and dominance over both people and objects in his life.
Can you explain the following lines?
'Half-flush that dies along her throat:' such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
A heart -- how shall I say? -- too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, 't was all one! My favour at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule ....
The lines from "My Last Duchess" reflect the Duke's jealousy and control over his late wife. He criticizes her for finding joy in simple things, like sunsets and cherries, implying she was too easily pleased and impressionable. The Duke resents that these joys rival his own favor, revealing his possessiveness and dissatisfaction. His disdain for her innocent pleasures suggests a deeper, possibly ominous, discontent with her independent happiness.
What does the phrase "and I choose Never to stoop" mean in the context?
"Or there exceed the mark”—and if she let Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, —E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;"
In the context, "and I choose Never to stoop" reflects the Duke's arrogance and refusal to lower himself by instructing his Duchess on proper behavior. He perceives teaching her as beneath him, preferring instead to exert control without compromise. This attitude contributes to his decision to have her killed, underlining his desire for dominance and control, and possibly using her perceived indiscretions as a pretext for turning her into an object he can manage.
What does the Duke imply about his late wife when he states, "She had a heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad / Too easily impressed: She liked what'er / She looked on, and her looks went everywhere"?
The Duke implies that his late wife was excessively cheerful and easily pleased, qualities he found offensive. He perceived her joy and appreciation of life as indiscriminate, undermining his own self-importance and status. The Duke's disdain reveals his narcissism and insecurity, as he expected her to focus solely on him. His desire for a wife who is more like a controlled, static work of art highlights his obsession with status and possessions.
How are the Duke's actions towards his listener consistent with his behavior towards his last Duchess in "My Last Duchess"?
The Duke's actions towards his listener in "My Last Duchess" mirror his behavior towards his last duchess by demonstrating his need for control. He dominates the conversation with the Count's emissary, allowing no interruptions, similar to how he attempted to control his last duchess. He discusses his dissatisfaction with her independence and hints at having her killed. His control extends to her portrait, which only he can reveal, indicating his desire to overpower others.
Can you explain the following lines from Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess"?
Or there exceed the mark”—and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set 40
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,
—E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands
These lines from "My Last Duchess" reveal the Duke's arrogance and refusal to compromise or communicate with his wife. He perceives discussing grievances as "stooping" and expects his desires to be met without question. The Duchess's failure to meet these expectations led to her continued behavior, which the Duke found offensive. His vague "commands" ultimately resulted in her death, illustrating his tyrannical nature and intolerance for opposition to his will.
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