"My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning: Analysis as a Dramatic Monologue

Introduction:

As you probably know that Robert Browning’s genius was essentially dramatic. His favourite form is dramatic monologue which though not invented by Browning was immensely popularized after him. Being a psychologist having his main idea to study the incidents that go to compose the development of the soul. Browning found this form to be extremely suitable to his purpose. His purpose is to throw light into the consciousness and so he frees himself from all the shackles that impede analysis. Thus to him dramatic monologue is a comprehensive soliloquy in which a certain critical moment in one’s person is taken and by permitting the individual to speak his character, the whole course of his existence are revealed in a brilliant search light. Now we will discuss his poem "My Last Duchess" as a dramatic monologue and see how far it interprets the flow of speaker's conscience.

What is a Dramatic Monologue?

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a masterful example of a dramatic monologue, a poetic form in which a single speaker addresses a silent listener, revealing their character and inner thoughts through their words. In this poem, the speaker, a Duke, recounts a disturbing incident involving his previous wife, Duchess. Through his monologue, Browning provides a chilling glimpse into the Duke's tyrannical nature and his obsession with control. In "My Last Duchess" the monologue is spoken in the presence of the ambassador of a foreign count whose daughter is being sought in marriage by the widowed Duke. The Duke is perhaps Alfonso-II, fifth Duke of Fenna. He married Lucrezia De Medici in 1558 when she was only fifteen. She died in 1561 perhaps by poisoning. Here the Duke is exhibiting the portrait of his former wife to the envoy. The basis of his character is the complacent egotism of the aristocrat who regards his wife as his properly. He cannot brook her graciousness and innocent gaiety and finally kills her.

The Duke's Character:

The Duke's monologue is a window into his twisted psyche. He presents himself as a cultured and sophisticated individual, but his arrogance and possessiveness quickly become apparent. His obsession with his previous wife's beauty and his resentment of her independent spirit are evident in his words. He describes her as a "Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,/Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without/Much the same smile? ," implying that her joy and appreciation for the world are a challenge to his authority.

So, Browning adopts here one of his favourite methods of character study, while describing the childish nature of his last Duchess the Duke himself reveals his own narrow hideous character. He is proud of his ancestral name and fame and he is the most jealous person even lived in this earth. He is too cruel to let his wife to live freely and fully. He is a specimen of the decadent renaissance. He is telling his companion that ‘The death and passion of her earnest glance’ was not reserved for her husband alone but the slightest courtesy or attention was sufficient to call up that spot of joy into her face. To Duke, her heart was too soon made glad too easily impressed. She not only smiled on her husband, she smiled on others “oh sir, she smiled no doubt, whenever 1 passed her; but who passed without much the same smile”. As she was his property he could not tolerate this and so he gave commands – “then all smiles stopped together.” The heartless Duke instantly dismisses the memory and decides to marry for the second time. He is greedy and expects handsome dowry in his forth coming marriage – “no just pretence of mine for dowry will be disallowed”.

The Duke's monologue reveals his tyrannical nature. He describes how he "gave commands" to a painter to "paint her just as she was" and how he "stopped the clock" to prevent her from enjoying the world outside his control. These actions suggest a deep-seated fear of losing control and a desire to possess his wife as a personal property:

"This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive."

Again, the theme of power and control is highlighted through the Duke's obsession with his wife's beauty and his desire to control her actions. It reflects his need for dominance and his fear of being undermined. His monologue is a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the devastating consequences that can result from a person's inability to recognize the humanity of others.

The last Duchess:

The Duke, however, unknowingly pen-pictures the character of last Duchess and he really brings out the bright side of her character. He says of the depth and passion of her earnest glance. She is enthusiastic and expensive by nature. She was one of the lonely women whose kindness and responsiveness are as natural as sunlight. She is gay and gracious, full of courtesy to all. The Duke’s narrow and jealous mind can not brook her broad and expensive nature. He considers his wife as his properly, and her courtesy to others is regarded as the infringement of the rights of property.

The Role of the Listener:

Implied action and implied conversation are the characteristics of a good dramatic monologue. The presence of the envoy for which the monologue is intended is very much suggestive here. The silent listener in this monologue plays a crucial role. The Duke's narration is seemingly addressed to a potential suitor for his current wife, but the real audience is the reader. By addressing someone else, the Duke is able to project a false image of himself, a man who is simply seeking a suitable companion. However, his underlying motivations and insecurities are exposed through his words. His responses and actions are adequately hinted at. When the Duke speaks of the officious fool who brought the cherries and when he says all smiles stopped together, the envoy looks at him with a fearful question in his eyes. But the Duke’s face immediately resumes it mask of complacency. There is implied action when the Duke asks the guests to go down and as they descend he draws his attention to fine bronze statue “Neptune, though taming a sea-horse”.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, "My Last Duchess" is a powerful and disturbing exploration of the human psyche. Through the Duke's monologue, Browning provides a chilling portrait of a tyrannical individual who is consumed by his own desires and fears. The poem's exploration of themes such as power, control, and the dangers of unchecked authority continues to resonate with readers today. Thus, as a dramatic monologue the poem is remarkable for character studies. Here Browning’s dramatic genius for character study is illustrated in the subtle and ironical characterization of the Duke.

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