"My last Duchess" by Robert Browing

The style and structure of this poem play a significant role in the effect of the poem. As is typical of Browning's poems, "My Last Duchess" is written as a dramatic monologue: one speaker relates the entire poem as if to another person present with him. This format suits this poem particularly well because the speaker, the Duke of Ferrara, comes across as being very controlling, especially in conversation. He seems jealous that he was not able to monopolize his former duchess's smiles for himself. We know that the Duchess died suspiciously and that the Duke is in the process of looking for a new wife. He is speaking to a messenger about a painting of his now deceased wife. He wants to make it look as if his wife was cheating on him and was unfaithful to him. He is very controlling, and could not control her and her smiles. He feels that the painter accurately captured the smile and the vivacity of the Duchess. When the Duchess was alive, the Duke could not control her smile and love for life and he considered her unfaithful. It is thought that he poisoned her because of these suspicions. through his speech the reader sees how he is very jealous and controlling, which leads one to believe that he may have many dishonorable qualities.