Introduction:
"My Last Duchess" of Robert Browning is a fine dramatic monologue. The poem was first published in 'Dramatic Lyrics' with the title "Italy" in the year1842 and this title is changed to "My Last Duchess : Ferrara" in 1849 . In 1862 this poem was included in Dramatic Romances.There is much probability that the Duke in the poem is Alfanso II, the fifth Duke of Ferrara. The Duchess of the poem is probably Lucrezia who died at the age of 17 , three years after marriage. It is suspected that this Duchess was poisoned to death.Soon after her death the Duke started searching for another Duchess. The negotiation for the hand of Barbara,daughter of Ferdinand-I and the niece of the Count of Tyrol, was started very soon. The result of it is the creation of this poem "My Last Duchess".
Summary of the poem : The last Duchess is painted, as if alive , on the wall and the Duke is showing that rare painting by Fra Pandolf to the envoy of the Count whose daughter is being negotiated for the next marriage. Now the Duke is drawing a pen-picture of the last Duchess. He says that the last Duchess was of very amiable and pliable disposition. The slightest praise of her beauty caused the spot of joy on her cheeks. She was made glad easily, impressed quickly by others, whoever he may be. She made no difference between the little gift given by others and the priceless gifts by the Duke. " --- she ranked / My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody's gift.".
The Duke became jealous, could not tolerate this sort of foolish behaviour that was below her dignity. He could not tell his disliking to her directly because to complain thus was below the dignity and rank of a Duke. The Duke boastfully says that one day he gave commands and 'all smile stopped together'. Actually, the Duke arranged to murder his last Duchess. This was the sad end of such a lifeful and cheerful lady.
Now the Duke asks the envoy to go down stair for further talking. He expects that the Count would not deny the amount of handsome dowry in this marriage, though the rich dowry is not the principal object in this marriage.At last another painting,the statue of Neptune, carved by Claus of Innsbruck, is showed by the Duke.
Dramatic Monologue : "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue. What is monologue ? If dialogue is the conversation between two persons, monologue would be the utterance of one. The listeners must be there, but they would not interfere, they are merely listeners. Dramatic monologue is a sort of poem in which a person (single one) utters the entire poem in a specific situation before a person where the latter would function as merely the listener. This poem is written and organized in such a manner that in course of the speaking the speaker unknowingly reveals his character.
In "My Last Duchess" the Duke makes it clear that he did not tolerate the 'openness' of the last Duchess and her cordial behaviour to others, her ever smiling face. He was compelled to give order for murdering her. The Duke seems to declare that wife is an asset of the husband and he only would be the idol of worship for the Duchess. He actually wants to give a fore knowledge of his character to the would be Duchess. He also fails to hide his greed for dowry. In this way the Duke unknowingly throws some light on his temperament and discloses his character. Naturally, "My Last Duchess" is labeled as a perfect Dramatic Monologue.
A dramatic monologue generally begins abruptly and there is no exception in this poem as it also begins abruptly: "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall." This poem is argumentative. The Duke has raised some arguments regarding the behaviour of the Duchess. Why would she equate his gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody's trifle gift ? Why would she smile when anybody other than the Duke passed ? The Duke knew many other things but he did not blame and condemn her because this would be unbecoming for the rank of a Duke :" --- I choose/Never to stoop." All these jointly confirm the validity of "My Last Duchess" as dramatic monologue.
