Theme Of Masculinity In My Last Duchess

Often times in feminist research, there has been a major focus on women. This makes sense, being that in most cultures women still don’t hold an equal standing with their male counterparts. Yet in the patriarchal society seen in most western cultures, there are still extreme setbacks for men. Though the patriarchy tends to favor men in many aspects, it holds them back in what is seen as an essential part of being human; expressing emotions. These emotions are bottled up and often turn into rage. When men try and express themselves, they are often ridiculed or harassed until they go back to bottling their emotions. This toxic masculinity can lead to violent outbursts, either to those around them or to themselves. I will be exploring the expression

This is a dangerous consequence of toxic masculinity as it affects not only himself but those around him.

In “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning, this kind of explosive response to toxic masculinity is shown. This masculinity brings on the jealously that lead our narrator, Alfonso II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara, to poison his wife and then rationalize it. In just the opening lines, you can see Alfonso’s attitude towards the woman that was once his wife.

That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,

Looking as if she were alive, I call

That piece a wonder, no; Fra Pandolf’s hands

Worked busily a day, and there she stands. (1-4)

Alonso shows no warmth to his deceased wife. In referring to her as his “last Duchess” he gives no life to her, seeing her as a prior model that he has upgraded from. He has dehumanized his wife to nothing more than a painting in his possession, stating “Though his fair daughter’s self, as I avowed/ At starting, is my object”. This objectification of women allows him to justify the murder of his

While the nameless narrator in “Keep Talking” does not go as far in his outburst as the Duke, both actions come from the same root of toxic masculinity in society. However, even with both the nameless narrator and the Duke having an outburst towards those around them, “Keep Talking,” does not focus towards his violent outburst, but instead, the internal effect of toxic masculinity. This variety of expression of emotions can reflect the difference between the time periods. While “My Last Duchess” was written in 1842, and based in the sixteenth century, while Philip Levine’s poem was written and based in the late twentieth century. (413, 506) Though masculine toxicity exists throughout the history of western culture, the evolution of rules gives a new structure of how men can express their anger. The nameless narrator internalizes his anger and restricts himself from expressing himself to those around him. The Duke shows the opposite. He lets his anger out in the poisoning of his wife and then explains his feelings and actions to any person passing by, as he describes in the