That S My DK1 Last Duchess Painted on the Wall
My Last Duchess
That’s my [DK1]last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive[DK2]. I call
That piece[DK3] a wonder, now: Fra Pandolf’s hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said
“Fra 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[DK4])
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not
Her husband’s presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek[DK5]: perhaps
Fra Pandolf chanced to say “Her mantle[DK6] laps
Over my lady’s wrist too much,” or “Paint
Must never hope to reproduce the faint
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[DK7].
Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries [DK8]some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
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[DK9]—as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody’s gift[DK10]. Who’d stoop to blame
This sort of trifling?Even had you skill
In speech—(which I have not)[DK11]—to make your will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, “Just this
Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
Or there exceed the mark”—and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth[DK12], and made excuse,
—E’en then would be some stooping[DK13]; 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?[DK14]This grew[DK15]; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together[DK16]. There she stands
As if alive.[DK17]Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet
The company below[DK18], then. I repeat,
The Count your master’s known munificence[DK19]
Is ample warrant that no just pretence
Of mine for dowry[DK20] will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse[DK21], thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
Robert Browning
Form
Rhyming couplets
Iambic pentameter
Enjambment- lines run on- the Duke’s revelations are compulsive; he is unashamed of his actions
This poem is a dramatic monologue- the speaker is distinct from the poet. The speaker or persona is the Duke of Ferrara but the poet is Robert Browning
The speaker is NOT Browning
It seems that the Duchess’ transgressions only took place in his mind. The Duke seems very paranoid and insecure
This poem does not criticise women, but men’s lack of understanding towards women
The Duke just wanted to control and dominate his wife, and because he felt he could not, he ‘gave commands’…
Remember- there is NO proof she was killed; however, it is heavily implied
[DK1]Hints at women are objects to own/ possess
[DK2]Could be ref to photographic quality of the painting BUT could also be a subtle hint that she is dead
[DK3]Reference to the painting, but also his previous wife- again, another ref to women being treated as objects
[DK4]She’s been immortalised in the painting, however Duke has control- he pulls back the curtain, he allows who can look at her. Maybe he now has the control he never had when she was around
[DK5]Foreshadows Duke’s feelings about her fidelity
[DK6]Cloak or cape
[DK7]Suggests that she lacked virtue and had a roving eye
[DK8]Innuendo, sexual connotations
[DK9]Claims that she was flirtatious but has no actual evidence of how she ‘thanked’ men. The Duke seems paranoid and insecure
[DK10]Duke feels that she did not value his noble lineage. She treated lower class people the same
[DK11]Rhyming couplets, rhythm and length of poem undermine this claim. We can therefore question the Duke’s reliability as a speaker
[DK12]In truth
[DK13]To actually speak to her, the Duke feels would be lowering one’s self. The implication is that she should know how to conduct herself
[DK14]Feels unvalued; he could not monopolise her smile
[DK15]‘This grew’- he believes that her behaviour got worse, escalated and as a result he ‘gave commands’
[DK16]This line suggests she was killed- however, this is never stated explicitly
[DK17]Echo of line 2- reinforces the idea that she was killed
[DK18]Returns to the business in hand- arranging another marriage
[DK19]Generosity
[DK20]Feels whatever request he makes for a dowry will be accepted
[DK21]Draws messenger’s attention to work of art, sculpture-