My Last Duchess by Robert Browning
In Ferrara, a duke shows the Count's representative a portrait of his last duchess and complains that she appreciated ordinary pleasures and others' courtesies as readily as his gifts. He says he gave commands and her smiles stopped, then discusses marriage to the Count's daughter and a dowry before pointing out his bronze Neptune taming a sea-horse.
By Robert Browning · Genre: Dramatic Monologue, Poetry · 732 words
First lines
Ferrara
Genres
- Dramatic Monologue — The duke addresses a silent visitor, revealing his demands for deference while describing his last duchess and negotiating another marriage.
- Poetry — Rhyming verse carries the duke's continuous speech from the duchess's portrait to the dowry and bronze sculpture.
Tags
jealousy · aristocracy · portraiture · marriage negotiations · dowry · dramatic monologue
What this Textopian page supports
My Last Duchess is listed on Textopian as a poem by Robert Browning, dated Date unknown.
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- Work type: Poem
- Author: Robert Browning
- Date: Date unknown
- Language: English
- Genres: Dramatic Monologue, Poetry
- Length: 732 words
- Structure: 1 section, 2 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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