Power and Conflict Poetry Remaining with Notes V2 260416.
notebook
The Duke clearly has
respect for the picture, of
his wife, on the wall. But
at the same time he calls
it a "wonder" almost like
he didn't understand his
wife, when she was alive.
The Duke is showing
off this portrait of the
Last Duchess ­ he
makes particular
reference to it as he
gives a tour of his
residence, to a visitor.
The Duke suggests that
other visitors have enquired
about the painting of the last
duchess which suggests she
still has many admirers,
even after her death. Her
image still mesmerises male
onlookers.
April 27, 2016
My Last Duchess
Ferrara
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will’t please you sit and look at her? I said
‘Frà Pandolf’ by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ’twas not
The fact the painter was busy working, on the
painting, perhaps conveyed how desperate he was to
project her image onto his portrait ­ he loved working
with this subject.
The Duke's introduction of The Duchess
sparks the visitors interest. The visitor
asks if the sight of the painting pleases
the Duke.
The Duke only reserves this painting for
his eyes only due to the "curtain" he
uses, to cover the painting, when he is
not around. He is therefore jealous of
others looking at the painting, when he
is not even though his last duchess is
dead!
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Power and Conflict Poetry Remaining with Notes V2 260416.notebook April 27, 2016

The Last Duchess, according to The Duke, only preferred the company of
her husband as he was the only one who made her blush with "joy." Yet,
there is other evidence in the poem to suggest other men made her blush
so The Duke's pride for his late wife is misplaced. Or, he lies to his visitor
but why does he choose to do this?

Her husband’s presence only, called that spot

Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek: perhaps
Frà Pandolf chanced to say ‘Her mantle laps
Over my lady’s wrist too much,’ or ‘Paint
Must never hope to reproduce the faint
Half­flush that dies along her throat’: such stuff
It's almost as if
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
the Duchess is
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
perhaps too
aware of her own A heart – how shall I say? – too soon made glad,
beauty but do we
Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er
blame her, for
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
her own vanity?
Sir, ’twas all one! My favour at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
A painter's brush will never truly
represent the blushing beauty of My
Last Duchess
The Last Duchess could sometimes fake
a blush to show she appreciated any
male admirer. But this could have led her
husband to doubt her and also make him
extremely jealous!
The Last Duchess could give her
heart away easily. Here, her
husband might be accusing his
late wife of promiscuity. He is
coyly suggesting she was a whore
­ but there is little evidence to
support this. Therefore, he is an
unreliable narrator so perhaps
we shouldn't trust the Duke.

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Power and Conflict Poetry Remaining with Notes V2 260416.notebook April 27, 2016

The Duke would only accept his wife's passions in private. Otherwise, he found her lively nature unsettling! This
also shows the Duchess had to adapt her behaviour, in front of an audience (especially when her husband was
looking).
Again, the duke is accusing his
The bough of cherries some officious fool wife of sleeping with others and
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule this is the way she "thanked men,"
She rode with round the terrace – all and each according to him but do we believe
him?
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. She thanked men, – good! but thanked
Somehow – I know not how – as if she ranked In the Duke's opinion, he gave her the gift
of marriage yet she gave this "gift" away, to
My gift of a nine­hundred­years­old name
other men, according to men. This upsets
With anybody’s gift. Who’d stoop to blame and infuriates him almost beyond jealousy.
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill His hateful feelings lead to anger.
In speech – (which I have not) – to make your will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, ‘Just this
Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
Or there exceed the mark’ – and if she let

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Power and Conflict Poetry Remaining with Notes V2 260416.notebook April 27, 2016

Some may make excuses for my late

wife's behaviour but I certainly do not.

It seems like The

Duke is almost Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set The Duke's deep pride, in his
talking to his wife
directly and maybe Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, own status (so he thinks very
he's forgotten much of himself), stopped
– E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose him from asking his wife for
about the visitor he
is talking to. Here, Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, what he wanted.
he is saying he will
never bow to his Whene’er I passed her; but who passed without
late wife's will and
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
be made to look
like a fool. Perhaps Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
this is why he
"draws" a "curtain" As if alive. Will’t please you rise? We’ll meet
over her portrait.
The company below, then. I repeat,

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Power and Conflict Poetry Remaining with Notes V2 260416.notebook April 27, 2016

The Duke is helping his visitor with a "dowry" (the pot of money a husband is given, when he
marries a wealthy woman ­ like a wedding present from his in­laws). The Duke starts discussing
this situation, with his visitor, so this brings him back to his task and why the visitor is here: to
help him negotiate the dowry.
It is only when the Duke compares his
wife to this statue of "Neptune" that he
The Count your master’s known munificence truly understands her and the depth of
her passion. But he can only
Is ample warrant that no just pretence appreciate her from far away; both in
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed; life and death.

Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed

At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea­horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!

ROBERT BROWNING