Write about how Robert Browning tells the story in 'My Last Duchess'. 21 Marks
'My Last Duchess' is about a jealous, wealthy, and controlling Duke who is detailing his last wife and her flaws, whilst suggesting her death, to a servant in attempt to win a court's daughter in marriage.Browning uses the opening to quickly identify the character's personalities and their current situation. The title immediately show the Duke of Ferrara's possessiveness through the use of 'My'. This helps the reader to portray the Duke as a controlling and imposing character. Additionally, the Duke goes on to state that 'that's my last Duchess painted on the wall', this creates the idea of entrapment which you cannot escape from. As the poem progresses, it builds tension by suggesting the Duchess is a ghostly character, because in the painting she looks 'as if she were alive'. this creates a sense of staring, which may reflect back on a flirtatious personality or on the Duke's paranoia. The opening also creates a sense of regret as the Duke comments on the painting saying 'I call that a piece of wonder, now'. this shows that Duke did not originally appreciate his wife, until she was gone. This is shown through the comer. it shows hesitation and highlights that his wife is a delicate conversation topic.
Browning uses characterisation to present the Duke of Ferrara to be a controlling and beauty obsessed character. this can be seen through the art collection he has. The art work and its worth are emphasized when the Duke says 'I said Fra Pandolf', this highlights the Duke's need to make his wealth and power obvious to others. His obsession with beauty can also been seen through the description of his last wife, because it is mostly physically orientated. Furthermore, the Duke's greed is shown through the fact he has to cover her painting with a curtain, and chooses who is allowed to see her-'the curtain i have drawn for you'. This leads to his vanity as he identifies how important his 'nine-hundred-years old name' and how he refuses to 'stoop' to his Duchess's level. Browning characterises the Duchess to be a very attractive woman, however by suggesting the painting stares at the onlooker implies a flirtatious personality, this is then reinforced when the Duke claims that she 'she liked whate'er she looked on, and her looks went everywhere'. However, as the poem progresses Browning begins to characterise the Duchess as an innocent polite woman, because she 'thanked men' and she 'smiled'. This would irritate the Duke and so he 'gave commands' to her smiling, this suggests the Duke murdered the Duchess, because of his inability to control her. This adds to Duchess being presented as a innocent woman who meant no harm.
The ending helps to reinforce the Duke's greed and obsession with possessions and beauty. This can be seen when he claims the court's daughter will be another one of his 'objects'. he also feels the need to point out a second piece of artwork and again identifies the artist-'Claus of Innsbruck'. Additionally, he points out how Neptune is 'taming a sea-horse', this can be seen as the Duke implying he will have to tame his new wife. this adds to his controlling and imposing personality.
