My Last Duchess: Explanation and Analysis 

The victorian era is mostly known for the dramatic monologues of this time. And My Last Duchess poem is one of the perfect examples of a dramatic monologue which is written by Robert Browning. Browning was very famous for mainly his writings which were dramatic monologues. In this article, we are going to cover the explanation and analysis of Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess. 

But, before that, we should know in brief what dramatic monologue is. 

What is Dramatic Monologue? 

First of all, it is a kind of poem but there is not necessary to maintain any kind of specific meter. If you analyze ‘dramatic monologue’ then we find two parts, ‘dramatic’ and ‘monologue’. 

Well, ‘dramatic’ means something related to drama or having some features of the drama. And of course, we can easily find some of the dramatic features in it. We find a plot, character, action, etc in dramatic monologues. If we consider the second part, which is ‘monologue’, then it is easily understandable. As ‘mono’ means one, so monologue is what one person speaks and no one does not include in it. 

But, one question might appear that if dramatic monologue and soliloquy are the same. But, it’s not that. Soliloquy is when a character speaks alone and other characters are not present there, clearly they the off-stage. But, in the case of dramatic monologue, there might be a present one or some characters in front of the speaker. And, the similarity among these two is there is always one speaker.

Coming back to the point, we can say dramatic monologue is a mixed blend of drama and lyrics. As we can see the dramatic features and the emotion and the style of lyric, so it is a mixture of the two. (drama & lyric). 

Explanation & Analysis: 

“That’s ……………………..there she stands.” 

Here the speaker is a duke, whose late wife has been mentioned in his speech. He is chatting with a messenger and showing his palace. Then, he shows the messenger a painting of his former wife (last duchess) and mentions that as if she is alive. The painting’s creator is Fra Pandolf, who is a very famous artist and it takes one whole day to create. 

“Will…………. and ask thus.” 

Now, the duke is saying the messenger to take a seat and asks to look at her. Then, he mentions its (painting) earnest glance and the passion. Now, he makes it very clear in the next line that it is covered with a curtain, and he the only one who has the right to turn the curtain. We find here the initial behavior of the duke's maintaining his superiority to others. 

Now, as the messenger feels the beauty of the portrait, he becomes very much curious to know how it is possible to develop such a beautiful glance. As an answer to this, the speaker assures him that he is not the first person who has this type of query. 

“Sir,.................... spot of joy.” 

Here the speaker is mentioning the fact behind the smile of his last duchess. Therefore, he has made it clear that the reason behind her smile is not related to his presence. Rather, he is saying perhaps it is Fra Pandolf who has thrown a joke toward the last duchess and that is the reason for her blushing. In the lines, Pandolf is found to be humourous to the duchess. 

“She had a heart………….with anybody’s gift.” 

Now, the duke starts describing his last duchess according to his point of view. At this part of the monologue, we come to know a childlike simplicity in the character of the duchess. 

She remained happy all the time putting a gentle smile on her face, used to look on everywhere. Now, the duke is addressing his lamentation. According to him, his given necklace and the mere sunlight in the sky as well as someone’s given cherries had almost the same value. She used to give a pleasant smile to the duke and also to anyone who passes by. 

The duke was not happy as his superiority was not accepted by his duchess. And it was the pride and ego of the duke who wanted to get some practical treatment from the duchess, not as simple as others. That’s why he has also addressed the comparison of his position with anybody’s gift. 

“Who’d stoop…………..never to stoop.” 

Here the duke brings the reference of the word ‘stoops’. And it clears the situation any kind of superiority is somehow present there. And, ironically here it is. Saying the faults of his wife, he is talking it as ‘stooping’. So, the line makes it clear how arrogant egoistic the duke is. 

Then, he is lying over the fact that he cannot speak aptly. And that is a mere reason he didn’t discuss that matter with his late wife. And, in the next line, he makes it clear that he never chooses to stop even though she is the wife of the duke. 

“Oh, sir, she ………...smiles stopped together.” 

It is the climax point of this dramatic monologue as it qualifies through some properties of a drama. So, here the climax meets with the line “The all smiles stopped together.” And it is also an ironic phrase that refers to the death of his former duchess. 

“There she stands…………..below then.” 

Here the duke says that she is no more and remains as a picture on the wall as it is alive. Then he asks the messenger to rise and to go to his master, the Count who is waiting for them to give his daughter’s hands to the duke. 

“I repeat, ………… bronze for me!”

Now, the duke is found to stating that he is not much interested in dowry for this marriage. But, at the same time, he is also trying (strongly) to discuss that matter. After that, his saying of only needs the daughter of the Count is a sign of his hypocrisy. By this monologue, his character becomes very much clear to us and also the reason why his former duchess is no more. 

At last, the monologue comes to an end by stating taming a sea-horse by Neptune. And it clears the doubt about its ultimate matter of this text.