Analysis of the dramatic monologue

Just reading the title, the reader expect the dramatic monologue to deals with a description of a dead Duchess, who was the speaking voice’s wife. Indeed, as in the title, the reader reads the words My and Last which imply the love relation between the dead Duchess and the speaking voice. In addition, in the 3^rd line you find the word wonder referring to the woman. Urgent rhythm is due to the enjambments at the end of the lines and it underlines the Duke’s will of control everything and everyone; indeed the wife was a victim of his desire of command.

The Duke is talking to mysterious listener, whose role will be known at the end of the dramatic monologue: he is a Count’s envoy. The Duke tells him about his former wife’s behaviour and manners. The false description starts when the two characters pass through a room, where the Duke commands to put a Duchess’ portrait. During the Renaissance portraits were very used and they represents an ideal figure of sovereign. They usually have the task to keep his/her memory after his/her death. In the portrait the Duchess was immortalized as ideal according to the Duke, who considers her behaviour unadapt for her social position. In addition he was jealous, indeed the portrait is hidden by a curtain. As a consequence he made her dead. He alludes to her death in the following lines: Then all smiles stopped together.

The Duke does never receive any envoy’s answers. He seems the Duke stays in his personal truths; indeed he does not listen Fra Pandolf’s questions. Although he talks with the envoy, he stays among his thoughts and he remembers his wife’s actions, as if he wanted continuously to justify the murder.

The Duke uses direct speech, informal and formal forms. As if he takes distance from the envoy, but also he wants to be intimacy with him. Duke continuously calls the envoy’s attention, and the Duke invites the envoy to follow him. Maybe his intent is to create his image as good to the final meeting with the Count, whose daughter will get married with the Duke.

The setting is an internal space, as to suggest the atmosphere: the Duke is revealing his inner thoughts. But the space is also symbolic, it stays for the Duke’s orthodoxy and certainties.

At the end of reading, the dramatic monologue draws Duke as mad; he was overwhelmed by his faults indeed he repeat to himself (and to the listeners) the Duchess’ behaviour, he tries to find the motivations of the murder.