Robert Browning--> My Last Duchess

Robert Browning, like his wife, came from a wealthy family and was self- educated. He was not as popular as Elizabeth and actually wrote a fan letter declaring his love for her and her poetry. She overshadowed him throughout their marriage, but after her death, his work became more popular. While Elizabeth tended to write poetry dealing with gender issues, Robert wrote much harsher prose about historical situations. One of the things that makes Robert’s work so unique is the way it leaves the reader with multiple conclusions and it is near impossible to tell what side he is on; his intentions or purpose for writing the work are rarely revealed. He liked the characters themselves to be the narrators and tends to catch them in a moment of emotional intensity in which they reveal their character though imagery, language, rhythm, and unintended ironies.
One of his more disturbing works, My Last Duchess, takes place during a meeting between a duke and the envoy of his future wife’s father. The envoy is meeting with the duke to make a decision for the father as to whether the two should be allowed to marry. As the footnote points out, the narrator and main character is modeled after Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara, who married Lucrezia de Medici in 1558. His wife died three years later with suspicions of poisoning and in 1565 the duke married the daughter of Ferdinand I. Browning begins the poem by pointing out to the envoy, “That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall” (p. 663); “Sir, ‘twas not/ Her husband’s presence only, called that spot/ Of joy into the Duchess’ cheek…” (p. 664). At this point the reader probably begins to wonder what is going on. First, it seems as though the Duke is by no means sad that his last duchess has died. Secondly, the quote about her becoming joyful at other’s presence and the duke’s disdain about it, may imply his skepticism about her faithfulness to him. It is easy to wonder then whether he murdered her.
The first time I read the poem I sympathized with the duchess because she seemed to be such a kind and happy woman and the duke, a ruthless, jealous, easily angered man. However, upon the second and third readings, the following lines struck me differently, “She had/ A heart--how shall I say?--too soon made glad,/ Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er/ She looked on, and her looks went everywhere” (p. 664). This time around the last two lines gave me a feeling that the woman may have been unfaithful to her husband. But then a few lines down, “… as if she ranked/ My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name/ With anybody’s gift…” (p. 664), the duke is characterized as arrogant and jealous; he apparently doesn’t feel very appreciated. Could this possibly be reason enough to murder her or have her murdered? “This grew; I gave commands;/ Then all smiles stopped together” (p. 664). This quote certainly leads the reader to the conclusion that the duke murdered his duchess out of jealousy and suspicions of unfaithfulness.
As we brought up in our chat session, one of the things that makes Robert Browning so intriguing is the multiple interpretations left available for the reader. Did the Duke think that the woman was unfaithful or simply overly happily? Was she unfaithful? Did he murder her? Did he have her murdered? Why was he going on and on to the envoy in that manner? Was it a slip? Was it a warning for his future duchess? Was he boasting? What does the envoy think? Not once do we get a peek at what the envoy is thinking through this time with the duke. Will he suggest the marriage to his employer? No matter the answers to any of these questions, My Last Duchess, is a very disturbing and thought provoking poem.