The objective of the present text is to provide the textual analysis of Robert Browning’s dramatic monologue My last duchess. In order to provide an efficient analysis I will take into consideration the title, the structure, the denotation and connotation levels, the overall effect and the ideal reader. 

Starting from the title, the reader can wonder himself or herself who the duchess is and why Browning had decided to title his dramatic monologue in this way. In particular, the adjective last may arouse the reader’s curiosity: why is she the last duchess?

Considering the denotation level, it can be said that even if the title may make the reader suppose that the main character is the duchess, actually the protagonist is the duke. Essentially, the content shows a jealous duke that does not like his wife that smiles at everyone. The major theme developed is power and analysing the language used I am going to tell the reason.

Let start analysing the linguistic choices employed by the writer. Right from the first line of the monologue, the reader can understand that the duke is a possessive and self-obsessed man because of the use of the possessive adjective “my”, that is repeated several times in the poem and suggests also the perception as if the duke believes his wife belongs to him and the mention of the famous artist Fra Pandolf. Actually, he is not a famous artist but the duke chose this name in order to impress the reader. Moreover, the word Fra is significant: it means brother and therefore specifies a religious person. This expedient is very relevant because makes the reader understand that the duke has not a good reason to be jealous of his wife, he cannot have a sentimental relationship with the duchess. In addition, the expression at the second line as if she were alive makes clear that the duchess is dead; the reader may suppose she had been killed by the duke but it is not sure. It is interesting to highlight that the duke adopted formal terms like “sir” and “you” to address the envoy that show the duke wants to clarify his superiority towards the envoy. It follows that the duke is a haughty man, too. Going on, the duke’s pride is underlined. The duke is proud of his name and wants his wife to be proud too, but she seems not to be grateful for this. Once again, the repetition of the pronoun I makes clear the duke’s self-obsession (“I choose”, “I passed”, “I gave”, “I repeat”). With the demand will’t please you rise?, the duke highlights his controlling personality: it is a demand and not a question addressed to the envoy.  The last lines contain an interesting metaphor about the Roman god of the sea Neptune. He was a strong and a domineering god and it is the metaphor of the duke himself. It reflects how and what the duke feels, in particular his role over his wife and generally speaking over women. The reader has to keep in mind that the Victorian Age was a male society where women were considered inferior. 

Concerning the structure, it is a dramatic monologue organised into iambic pentameter with rhyming couplets. It is possible to create some links between the content and the form adopted. The rhythmic scheme and iambic pentameter organisation reflect the steady and controlling personality of the duke, therefore it can be said that the form reflects the content

The overall effect conveyed to the reader is that the duke’s is a possessive, jealous, vain, self-obsessed and controlling man. 

The ideal reader may be someone that had a similar attitude to the duke; reading this extract would make them understand how their behaviour is perceived from others.