Learning Paths » 5A Interacting
MY LAST DUCHESS
Consider the following points:
a. The speaker
1. Is he a character quite separate from the poet? Yes, he is, as a matter of fact the poem is based on the Duke's interior monologue in which the poet doesn't appear.
2. Has he been drawn from history or legend or has he been created by the writer?
I think he has been drawn from history. As a matter of fact maybe he is Alfonso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara from the 1533 to the 1598, and the Duchess might be Lucrezia de' Medici.
3. Is he delineated against a precise setting in time and place?
An intelligent reader can understand that the place is explicit as a matter of fact the poem is set in Ferrara, probably the court of Este family. On the other side there is no precise reference to the time but we can suppose that the poem is set in the XVI century.
b. The listener
1. His presence can only be inferred from clues in the text. Underline them.
● Will you sit and look at her
● Strangers like you
● Not the first are you
● I have drawn for you
2. Is there any interaction between the speaker and listener?
In my opinion there isn't interactions between the speaker and the
listener.
c. The present situation. Is the situation or the event the speaker hints at of a crucial importance for his life?
Yes, it is. As a matter of fact the Duke remember his wife as his last duchess.
d. The subject-matter.
1. The monologue refers to a past and a present situation. Is there any relationship between the two?
In my opinion there is a relationship between the two. As a matter of fact in the present situation he his going to meet the Count. While the past event is the killing of his past wife. So an intelligent reader can say that the two situations are related because he is going to get married again since his wife has died.
2. As you will probably realized the monologue arises out of a concrete situation and at the same time reveals the temperament of the character and the speaker. How would you characterize the Duke?
In my opinion we can say that the Duke is proud, as a matter of fact he says that he chooses never to stoop, jealous and possessive, as a matter of fact he killed his wife because of her glances and the smiles to other men.
3. Is there any discrepancy between how the Duke sees himself and how you see him? Yes, because he often justify his behaviour but in my opinion he seems quite sure to be right.
e. The language.
The monologue displays various characteristics of the spoken
languages. Find one example in the poem for each characteristics:
● Direct address: will't please you rise?
● Contracted forms: will't; e'en
● Pauses, signalled by dashes: from line 29 to 40
f. The tone.
How would you describe the tone of the monologue?
In my opinion the tone of the monologue is reflective as a matter of
fact there are many parts in which the Duke is reflecting on what
happened just to find a justification.At the same time the monologue is also reminiscent because the Duke remembers his wife.