MY LAST DUCHESS by Robert Browning

NOTES 26.04.2012

My Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue that is a POEM IN THE FORM OF SOLILOQUY in which the speaker reveals an aspect of his own personality without being aware of doing so. It was published in Dramatic Lyrics in 1842.

The poem is spoken by one person. This is a character separate from the poet; he has been drawn from history likely to be Alfonso II d’Este. It is a good picture of a typical Renaissance nobleman. It presents an unnamed duke of Ferrara who is showing a messenger from a court around his picture gallery. The man has come to the duke’s palace to arrange for THE PROPOSED MARRIAGE OF THE COUNT’S DAUGHTER WITH THE DUKE.

The duke shows his guest the beautiful portrait of his last duchess whom he had murdered (apparently) because she showed pleasure in beautiful things and showed also kindness to people who pleased her.

SITUATION: the situation is lived in a Renaissance setting, in a castle in Ferrara. It takes place indoor.

TIME: during the Renaissance