My Last Duchess

-Robert Browning

My Last Duchess is a brilliant dramatic Romance. In the poem Browning creates the character of a cold-hearted Renaissance aristocrat of refined tastes who reports that his first wife did not measure up to his standards.

The Duke's character :

The Duke begins by posing as a lover of art. He shows the messenger the picture of his wife's face. It has been painted on the wall by the famous painter, Fra Pandolf Pandolf spent a whole day, trying to reproduce the Duchess's facial expressions. The Duke draws attention to the glance and the 'spot' of joy on the wife's cheek.

The Duchess's character :

The Duchess had no discrimination, according to the Duke. The costly jewel gifted by him was treated by her on par with the cherries handed by some solicitous servant. Her smiles were also bestowed indiscriminately on all and sundry. When he stood by her she smiled bewitchingly on him. She lavished the same kind of smile on all passers-by. The possessive Duke could not; tolerate this. He considered it beneath his dignity to advise her as to what she should or should not do. He had her murdered to stop her smiling.

The Duke is money-minded, besides being sexually possessive. He expects the messenger's master's daughter to bring with her much dowry. But he says that he would not demand it openly.

The Duke's attitude to his future wife :

Before going out, the Duke shows the messenger he statue of the sea-god Neptune taming a sea-horse. He thus implies that he would subdue his future wife also with the same ruthless ferocity.

The Duchess tragic death :

The Duchess does not maintain the reserve expected of a lady of her stature. She mixes freely with low-class people. No husband will tolerate such an unprincipled wife. Hence the Duke orders for her death.