Page 338 - DENG405_BRITISH_POETRY

Unit 29: Robert Browning: My Last Duchess and the Last Ride Together

A poem like “My Last Duchess” calculatedly engages its readers on a psychological level. Because Notes
we hear only the Duke’s musings, we must piece the story together ourselves. Browning forces his
reader to become involved in the poem in order to understand it, and this adds to the fun of reading
his work. It also forces the reader to question his or her own response to the subject portrayed and
the method of its portrayal. We are forced to consider, Which aspect of the poem dominates: the
horror of the Duchess’s fate, or the beauty of the language and the powerful dramatic development?
Thus by posing this question the poem firstly tests the Victorian reader’s response to the modern
world—git asks, Has everyday life made you numb yet?—gand secondly asks a question that must
be asked of all art—git queries, Does art have a moral component, or is it merely an aesthetic exercise?
In these latter considerations Browning prefigures writers like Charles Baudelaire and Oscar Wilde.

29.1.5 Detailed Analysis

Murder... mystery... intrigue... All describe Robert Browning’s poem, “My Last Duchess.” From
the speaker’s indirect allusions to the death of his wife the reader might easily think that the speaker
committed a vengeful crime out of jealousy. His flowery speech confuses and disguises any possible
motives, however, and the mystery is left unsolved. Based on the poem’s style, structure, and
historical references, it becomes evident that even if the speaker did not directly kill his wife, he
certainly had something to hide.
The style and structure of this poem play a significant role in the effect of the poem. As is typical of
Browning’s poems, “My Last Duchess” is written as a dramatic monologue: one speaker relates the
entire poem as if to another person present with him. This format suits this poem particularly well
because the speaker, taken to be the Duke of Ferrara, comes across as being very controlling,
especially in conversation. For example, he seems jealous that he was not able to monopolize his
former duchess’ smiles for himself. He also seems to direct the actions of the person he is addressing
with comments such as “Will’t please you rise?” (Line 47) and “Nay, we’ll go / Together down,
sir” (lines 53-54).

What is the role of women in the poem?

Browning uses many techniques, including a simple rhyme scheme, enjambment, and caesura to
convey various characteristics and qualities about the speaker and the situation. Browning uses an
AA BB rhyme scheme, which is very common to ballads and songs. It also enhances the irony of the
speaker’s later comment that he does not have “skill / In speech” (lines 35-36). The enjambed lines
indicate the control that the speaker is exerting on the conversation and give the feeling that the
speaker is rushing through parts of the poem.

When the Duke is speaking of the death of his wife, for example, the lines running over
suggest that he is nervous about the subject. The caesuras also suggest to the reader
that he is hiding something or that he is pausing to think.

When discussing the poem’s content, there are many things we know for certain and many others
that are questionable. We know that the Duchess died suspiciously and that the Duke is in the
process of looking for a new wife. He is speaking to a messenger about a painting of his now
deceased wife. The Duke, of course, is casting himself in a favorable light and is presenting his best
side. He wants to make it look as if his wife was cheating on him and was unfaithful to him. He is
very controlling, and could not control her and her smiles. This smile was what the Duke likes the

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