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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Essay & Composition Writing

Analysis of Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess'

I am currently studying the poem 'My Last Duchess' as part of my GCSE English Literature. Although our teacher provides a quite good analysis of the poem, I feel she just states the obvious e.g. 'She looked on, and her looks went everywhere' implies that she constantly flirted with everyone. There wasn't any different points of view, or what it signifies in a bigger picture. I would appreciate some help with a more detailed, thorough analysis of the poem, as it would really help me state what effect it has on the reader (as we are advised to do).
Thank you! Emotion: happy

'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: 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)
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: perhaps
Fra Pandolf chanced to say “Her mantle 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.
Sir, ’twas 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
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,
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;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet
The company below, then. I repeat,
The Count your master’s known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretence
Of mine for dowry 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, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!
  

Top answer

it try’s to us about his last wife who was died and the memory is still fresh in the hearth of the duke that when every he work to his sitting room he saw the picture painted on the wall looking as if she were alive “fra pandolf’s hand Worked busily a day, and there she stands. ” that she never see such a stranger live thanks you

  • it try’s to us about his last wife who was died and the memory is still fresh in the hearth of the duke that when every he work to his sitting room he saw the picture painted on the wall looking as if she were alive “fra pandolf’s hand Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
  • ” that she never see such a stranger live thanks you
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4 Answers
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The speaker was trying to tell us about the poem “my last duchess” .it try’s to us about his last wife who was died and the memory is still fresh in the hearth of the duke that when every he work to his sitting room he saw the picture painted on the wall looking as if she were alive “fra pandolf’s hand Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will’t
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The speaker was trying to tell us about the poem “my last duchess” .it try’s to us about his last wife who was died and the memory is still fresh in the hearth of the duke that when every-time he work to his sitting room he saw the picture painted on the wall looking as if she were alive “fra pandolf’s hand Worked busily a day, and there she stands. Will’t
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I've just seen your post.
If you still need help, let me know
(hope it's not too late).
JK
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Because of his arrogant, controlling and possessive nature, the Duke mistakes the young woman's qualities of compassion, modesty, humility, delight in simple pleasures, and courtesy to those who serve her (the quotes can easily be found in the poem), as "faults" because she doesn't reserve her attention for him, his rank and his power.
For instance, he misunderstands the fact that everyone is

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