The Inferiority of Women in Robert Browning's Poem My Last Duchess

Written by Robert Browning, “My Last Duchess” is a poem about an egocentric Duke who has a painting of his last wife upon the wall and is trying to impress an ambassador who is negotiating his next marriage. Although it is obvious that the Duke is trying to persuade this ambassador, however, this is where the first mystery is created. It is almost as if he is trying to persuade no one more than himself.

This poem was set in Renaissance Italy and women were denied all political rights and considered legally subject to their husbands. Women of all classes were expected to perform, first and foremost, the duties of housewife: sewing, cooking, and entertaining, among others. It is obvious from the historical context that Browning’s poem was based on the ideology of Renaissance Italy and their feelings about women. However, when we look at this poem from a modern perspective the overall story is not one that could be recognized anywhere in Britain today. However, in third world countries, today, women are still treated like in this poem. Nowadays, in other countries, women are continuing to fight for more and more rights and independence; the poem it shows no freedom or option for these ladies as they are forced into marriage and in this case, separated from it just as quickly. Victorian England, when Browning wrote the poem, was in transition to an extent and women were beginning to gain some respect and responsibility.

From the beginning, it is evident that the Duke is very confident and masculine: he uses long assertive statements without any hesitation. All of these statements not only give the reader a description of the Duchess but also a very vivid picture of the Duke, as Browning cleverly works all aspects together to give ...

... middle of paper ...

...his wife in rank and society, he deserves a full acknowledgement and thanks.

It also becomes apparent to the reader the possible the Duke had his wife killed, “This grew; I gave commands;

Then all smiles stopped together.”

This suggests that the Duke became increasingly annoyed with his wife’s actions and gave orders to have her killed, so stop his irritation.

Throughout the whole poem, the Duke continues to use words like “mine” or “my”. He is very possessive and believes largely in ownership. Even the last few lines and last words are about what he owns, “Notice Neptune, taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!” Browning decides to make it even more obvious, by adding an exclamation after the final word making it very clear to the reader that the Duke wants everybody to know what he owns.