Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" (WEEK VI) - PDF

Introduction to Victorian Poetry WEEK VI Dr. Zübeyir SAVAŞ MY LAST Introduction Summary of the poem DUCHESS Historical context by Themes - Pride and Jealousy ROBERT - Discernment and Hierarchy BROWNIN - Art and Truth Reflectio...

Introduction to Victorian Poetry WEEK VI Dr. Zübeyir SAVAŞ MY LAST Introduction Summary of the poem DUCHESS Historical context by Themes - Pride and Jealousy ROBERT - Discernment and Hierarchy BROWNIN - Art and Truth Reflections of Victorian Society G INTRODUCTION Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess” was first published in 1842 as part of his collection titled Dramatic Lyrics, which was initially called “Italy.” This poem is an excellent example of a style known as dramatic monologue, a way of writing that allows a character to express their thoughts and feelings directly to the reader or another character. In the poem, the speaker is the Duke of Ferrara, who shows a painting of his deceased wife to a messenger from a count. The count's daughter is a potential bride for the duke. As the duke talks about the portrait, his words reveal his jealousy and inner turmoil regarding his late wife. SUMMARY The poem opens with a subtitle that tells us the setting is “Ferrara.” In the first line, the speaker points to a painting of “my last Duchess,” who seems so lifelike that it feels like she could speak. This introduction suggests that the speaker is the Duke of Ferrara, who is discussing his late wife. He appreciates the artist’s skill, a painter named Fra Pandolf, and invites his guest to sit for a short talk. SUMMARY The Duke mentions that visitors who see the Duchess's portrait often feel curious about the intense emotions shown in her expression, just like the person he is talking to right now. He also reveals that he keeps the portrait hidden behind a curtain, which only he can pull back. SUMMARY The Duke starts to respond to a question by highlighting a joyful blush on the Duchess's cheek. He suggests that her blush might not just be him being there. While painting her portrait, the artist, Fra Pandolf, asked her to pull back the cloak on her wrist and mentioned that his painting could not capture the subtle blush on her neck. The duke thinks the duchess may have misinterpreted these remarks as flattering, which might have caused her to blush. SUMMARY The duke shares his thoughts about the duchess, saying she got happy too quickly [too soon made glad]. He felt she did not think about things deeply and responded with the same joy to everything around her. He lists a few examples of what made her smile: his compliments about her appearance, a beautiful sunset, a cherry branch given to her by someone just trying to impress her, and even the mule she would ride. No matter what it was, she would respond with praise or a blush. The duke mentions one last example that frustrated him the most. He noticed that while the duchess thanked many men for the gifts they gave her, she seemed to treat them with the same value as his most important gift to her—his noble title that had been in his family for nine hundred years [nine-hundred-years-old name]. For her, being a duchess did not mean any more than any other gift. SUMMARY The duke felt he could not bring up the duchess’s lack of understanding. It was a small issue, and he would have felt embarrassed to criticise her for it. Even if he could express his concerns well, he believed it would lower his own dignity to correct her behaviour. He worried that she might not take his advice seriously or would respond with an excuse. The duke finishes this point by saying, “I choose / Never to stoop.” SUMMARY The duke says that the duchess always smiled at him when he walked by, but he points out that she smiled at everyone who passed her. He adds that this continued until he gave some orders, after which her smiles stopped completely. The Duchess only exists in this portrait, where she “stands / As if alive.” SUMMARY The duke asks his guest to stand and go downstairs to meet others. He explains that the guest is a messenger for a count. The duke wants to marry the count’s beautiful daughter. He mentions the count’s wealth and kindness and plans to request a large dowry, saying this request is reasonable. Before they go downstairs, the duke asks the guest to look at one more artwork: a bronze sculpture of Neptune taming a sea horse. This rare piece was created for the Duke by Claus of Innsbruck.  Browning's poem takes place in Renaissance Italy but may show Victorian views about that time more than it reflects the Renaissance itself. The poem tells about Alfonso II, a Spanish nobleman who HISTORIC was the Duke of Ferrara in the sixteenth century. His first wife, Lucrezia, was from the Borgia family and the daughter of a AL future pope. She died just three years after their marriage. The poem notes that CONTEXT Alfonso replaced Lucrezia with the daughter of the Count of Tyrol. During her time, Lucrezia made the Ferrara court a centre for Renaissance artists, including the famous Venetian painter Titian. As a result, Ferrara became an example of the cultural revival happening in Italy.  The term Renaissance means "rebirth." It refers to a time of European cultural and intellectual growth from 1350 to 1700. During this period, people began to revive the ideas of ancient Greece and Rome, which had been forgotten after the fall of the Roman Empire in HISTORIC the fifth century. Renaissance artists and thinkers believed that art, science, philosophy, AL and literature from that classical era had been lost during the dark ages that followed Rome's collapse. They felt these ideals were ready to CONTEXT be rediscovered, and Italians, in particular, viewed themselves as the rightful heirs of Roman achievements. Unsurprisingly, the Renaissance started in Italy, where reminders of ancient civilisation were always present, and other artistic styles, like Gothic, never had a particular place.  The Renaissance was a time of outstanding artistic achievement in Italy, supported mainly by wealthy patrons. These individuals paid artists to create paintings, sculptures, and buildings to show their success. Notable artists from this period, like Michelangelo, Leonardo HISTORIC da Vinci, Raphael, and Donatello, produced their famous works thanks to this support. AL A key idea that flourished during the CONTEXT Renaissance was humanism. Like the ancient Greeks and Romans, artists and thinkers of this era placed a high value on life on Earth and recognized the worth of human nature. They not only celebrated individual achievements but also instilled a belief in the potential of humanity to achieve great things, fostering a new sense of optimism and inspiration.  The Renaissance had some darker sides, and many people during Browning's time viewed it negatively. This view reflected the flaws and anxieties of the Victorians. For instance, Renaissance humanism seemed to prioritise people over God, and Victorians struggled with questions about God’s existence after Darwin’s theories. Their experiences HISTORIC showed that reaching great heights of civilisation did not always mean having moral values. As AL England fought colonial wars and faced widespread poverty in its industrial towns, the Victorians saw the Renaissance as morally better. They had CONTEXT reasons for this belief. Despite its cultural successes, the Renaissance had issues like corruption, depravity, and violence. The same wealth that allowed wealthy families to sponsor impressive art also helped them defeat rivals, whether individuals or whole cities. Most noble art patrons, including the infamous Borgia family—of which the historical “last Duchess” was a member— were involved in murders.  THEMES Pride and Jealousy The poem “My Last Duchess” focuses on a portrait of the late duchess, but it reveals the character of her jealous husband, the duke. Much of the tension in the poem comes from the difference between what the duke wants to say and what he shows about himself. He tries to describe the duchess as someone who gives too much attention and praise to others. However, in doing this, he shows that he is a possessive and proud man who goes to extremes.  THEMES Pride and Jealousy In each episode, the Duke tells us that the duchess has two sides. When he speaks 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 he reveals his jealousy and dismay at the fact that “‘twas not / Her husband’s presence only, called that spot / Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek.”  THEMES Pride and Jealousy The duke's jealousy is so intense that he feels equally unhappy whenever the duchess is happy. He should value her affection more than beautiful sunsets, a particular cherry bough, or a beloved pet mule. This shows his pride and self-importance, which leads to jealousy and deep resentment.  THEMES Pride and Jealousy The duke shows a self-aware attitude in his account, revealing his pride. He describes the duchess’s wide- ranging affections as a “trifling” matter, something he thinks he is above criticising. Yet his pride makes it hard for him to express his feelings to the duchess. He believes that bringing up his jealousy would be beneath him. Because of this, his feelings of jealousy and hurt pride “grew.” The duke’s pride, which caused his deep resentment and prevented him from expressing it, ultimately led him to have the duchess killed, as the poem suggests. In this way, the poem warns about the dangers of unchecked pride and jealousy.  THEMES Discernment and Hierarchy “My Last Duchess” highlights the different views of the Duke of Ferrara and his late wife. The Duchess had a positive outlook on everything around her, while the Duke saw the world in a more structured way. He believes there are apparent differences in value among things that people should recognise and respect. In his story, the Duke describes the duchess as someone who appreciates all things equally. «Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. Sir, ’twas all one!»  THEMES Discernment and Hierarchy Events like compliments, gifts, or beautiful views made her happy. She always responded with a positive remark. The Duke struggles to understand why she appreciates life so much. He thinks this difference between him and his late wife is a minor issue, but it drove him to murder.  THEMES Discernment and Hierarchy The poem suggests the Duke's strict standards come from his noble background and title. Aristocrats depend on a social structure that places them at the top. This is evident when the duke feels upset that the Duchess did not appreciate his "gift of a nine-hundred-year-old name." For the duke, the value of discernment connects to his sense of self-worth. In simple terms, he believes some things are better, and he, the Duke of Ferrara, is one of the best.  THEMES Art and Truth "My Last Duchess" is a masterful piece of art that not only delves into the nature of art itself but also has the power to trigger deep emotions in its audience. The poem skillfully demonstrates how art can encapsulate opposing truths, a concept vividly portrayed in the portrait of the Duchess, the bronze statue of Neptune, and the poem itself. The portrait of the duchess, the main subject of the poem, shows several contradictions. First, there is a contrast between life and death. Although the Duchess is dead, having been killed by the duke, her lifelike portrait makes her seem alive. This suggests she continues to exist in the Duke’s troubled mind. The portrait also illustrates another contradiction: the Duchess is controlled and uncontrollable. The duke tries to freeze her in time and place, literally and figuratively framing her. Yet, the duchess in the portrait is just as free-spirited as she was. A blush on her cheek shows her responsive and appreciative nature—the qualities the duke hated and ultimately suppressed by killing her.  THEMES Art and Truth In the poem's last lines, the Duke shows the messenger a bronze sculpture made for him by Claus of Innsbruck. The sculpture shows Neptune, the Roman sea god, “taming a sea horse.” The duke likes this gift but does not realise that it reveals a more profound truth that goes against the appearance. The sculpture reflects the Duke’s controlling nature and obsessive need to “tame” the duchess. Ironically, he is unaware of this contrasting truth.  THEMES Art and Truth The poem shows a dynamic similar to the Innsbruck bronze. It presents the Duke’s views, attitudes, and desires. He is the only speaker, allowing him to control the story to reflect his interests. However, the central irony in the poem is in the dark nature of his character, which he unintentionally reveals. While he tries to expose the Duchess's questionable tastes, he shows his vanity and cruelty. His monologue is polished and elegant, but it tells a disturbing story.  Reflections of Victorian Society "My Last Duchess" reveals the strict roles of men and women during the Victorian Age. The Duke treats his wife like property, showing that women had little freedom in both the Victorian and Italian Renaissance periods. The poem criticises male control and the way women are seen as objects. This is seen in how the Duke possesses his late wife's portrait. The poem also highlights the social customs in Renaissance Italy, like dowries, which emphasise women's lack of power in marriage.  Money and/​ or property that, in some societies, a wife or her family must pay to her husband when they ge t married.  Reflections of Victorian Society This poem shows that the Duke treated his late wife like his property. The poem was written in 1842, when women in England had minimal status, reflecting their situation throughout the Victorian age. Before the Married Women's Property Act of 1882, when a woman married, she lost her legal rights. She was seen as being one with her husband. This was a male-dominated society, so her belongings became her husband’s. Essentially, the wife belonged to her husband. She had to obey him and could not sell or give away her property without his approval.  Reflections of Victorian Society The poem takes place in Renaissance Italy. The Duke is a wealthy Italian nobleman who collects art. The poem opens with a scene where the Duke meets with a representative from his fiancée’s family to negotiate her dowry, as was common in the Renaissance. He shows this representative his art collection, which includes a portrait of his "last duchess." Although the poem is set in the Renaissance, it reflects a Victorian view. During the Renaissance, humanistic philosophy emerged, placing man above God. In Victorian times, people struggled with the conflict between religion and Darwin's theories. They viewed the Renaissance as a time of renewed knowledge, often viewing it idealistically. However, this period also had corrupt popes and powerful families, like the Borgias of Italy, who used violence to defeat rivals. In the poem, the Duke is a jealous and controlling man. He suggests he had his “last Duchess” killed because she did not give him enough attention. He believed she should have only smiled at him and appreciated his family name instead of being friendly to everyone else.  Reflections of Victorian Society During Robert Browning's time, people often saw women as inferior. This view influences his poem "My Last Duchess." The Duke of Ferrara accuses his late wife of being "too easily impressed" and suggests that her beauty caught the attention of others. He claims she lived an immoral life. Due to his jealousy and suspicion of her faithfulness, he ultimately ordered her murder. This reflects how women in the Victorian era were punished for not meeting societal expectations. If they did not follow the rules, they faced ridicule or were considered unsuitable for marriage. Women deemed immoral often suffered from harsh judgments. Additionally, religion played a crucial role in many Victorians' lives, as shown by the reference to Jesus Christ.  THE END SEE YOU NEXT TIME!