The character of the Duke in Robert Browning's poem "My Last Duchess" is a complex and enigmatic figure. On the surface, he is a wealthy and powerful nobleman, with a sense of entitlement and an obsessive need for control. However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that the Duke's character is deeply flawed and disturbing, as he displays a lack of empathy and a disturbing lack of remorse for the death of his last wife.
At the beginning of the poem, the Duke presents himself as a man of refinement and taste, as he shows the ambassador a portrait of his last wife and speaks highly of her beauty. However, as the conversation continues, it becomes clear that the Duke was unhappy with his wife's behavior and took drastic measures to control her. He reveals that she was "too soon made glad," meaning that she was too easily pleased and showed her joy and affection too freely. This suggests that the Duke wanted a wife who was more reserved and controlled, and that he was jealous of her ability to express happiness and pleasure.
The Duke's jealousy and need for control are further revealed when he speaks of the "nine-hundred-years-old name" of his family, and how he will not allow his wife's name to be "breath'd by commoners." This suggests that the Duke sees his wife as a possession, and that he is fiercely protective of his family's reputation and status. It is also telling that the Duke speaks of his wife in the past tense, revealing that she is no longer alive.
As the poem progresses, the Duke's character becomes increasingly disturbing and sinister. He reveals that he gave orders for his wife to be killed, and that he does not regret her death. He speaks of her as if she were a commodity that he owned, saying "I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together." This reveals a lack of empathy and a disturbing lack of remorse for the death of his wife.
In conclusion, the character of the Duke in "My Last Duchess" is a complex and disturbing figure. On the surface, he appears to be a wealthy and powerful nobleman, but as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that he is deeply flawed and lacks empathy and remorse. His obsessive need for control and jealousy reveal a disturbing lack of respect for the autonomy and happiness of others.
My Last Duchess Characters
While his character is not significant, his work functions as an important symbol. His arrogance and jealousy stem from his aristocratic ancestry and we, the audience, see him as a shallow human being unable to ever show true love to his Duchesses. Firstly, the speeches of the dukes reveal a great deal about his character. Harmon, William, and C. Robert Browning maps the mind of the protagonist, leading the readers along the labyrinthine complexities of his psychology; yet, there are blurred areas which readers have chosen to interpret according to their individualistic appreciation.
Character Analysis of Duke in My Last Duchess
Here, the write about the way browning tells the story- My Last Duchess Immediately Browning titles the story with a hint that suggests the story will describe ownership of one of many Duchess'. Referring to her portrait, he tells his guest, Sir, 'twas not Her husband's presence only, called that spot Of joy into the Duchess' cheek In other words, the Duke was upset because it wasn't only his presence that brought his wife joy. Also, he wanted the messenger to inform his master Count of Tyrol about his demand for dowry. Or it could just be that she is ready to move on in her life and is happy. He encrypted her within the frame of art eternally, curtained, in the grip of his authority.
Character Analysis in My Last Duchess
Browning is the writer and the listener, the Duke is the speaker and the story is told in a dramatic monologe. Throughout the dramatic monologue, the Duke reveals his pride, his vanity, and his need for control. As the duke ponders and speaks of the painting it is as if his emotions of love, jealously, and anger are provoked just as if she was still there. As the duke displays the portrait of his last duchess to the envoy, his image as an art connoisseur is revealed. Ironically, his effort to reorganize and reclaim his position ultimately resulted in lowering himself to a position that was ridiculed by even his own servants. Notice here as well that the Duke only mentions his interest to be in the bodily aspects self of the woman, which reinforces his mentality about the woman being an object.
My Last Duchess: Duke's Personality Analysis
His works delineate the different shades of feeling, regardless of whether it is the smooth stream of perfect otherworldly love in The Last Ride Together or the complexities of brain and nature of affection in Porphyrias Lover and My Last Duchess. The Duchess would smile at other people but the Duke wanted complete control and was jealous when the Duchess was friendly towards other people. This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. Yet, the mindsets of these men are, in some aspects, very different. The Duke wanted his wife to value him, and only him, at least above absolutely everything else in the world.
Character Of My Last Duchess
She was guilty of being a fresh young girl who felt happy at the beauty of the sunset, the simple gift of cherries proffered by some subordinate, the white mule she rode. She had the depth of sincerity, and was accommodative and never rude or discourteous to anyone. The duke also uses Those are a couple ways that the duke reveals his character-through symbols and through imagery. In the monologue you start to acknowledge the fact that perhaps the Duke himself has murdered his own wife because he was jealous. The audience learns that the Duke is cruel, jealous, proud, and arrogant. Taking care of business, Browning is a writer of affection. Firstly, the speeches of the dukes reveal a great deal about his character.
