The Last Duchess Essay

A Tainted Perception of a Beautiful Duchess
In Robert Browning’s dramatic monologue, “The Last Duchess”, the Duke portrays himself as a prideful, eloquent, man who is impassioned by his art. Throughout the poem, the reader soon learns and observes his jealous, possessive nature that is concealed within his character. The Duke subtly reveals characteristics of “ruthlessness, cynicism, contempt for human life” within himself and has an uncontrollable “lust for power”. (Joshua Adler, 223) Art possesses a significant role throughout this poem as it reveals the troubled, twisted relationship between the Duke and his last Duchess and how he uses his painting of her to exhibit control.
The Duke display’s the painting of his last Duchess on a wall
in his private art gallery, in which she is placed behind a certain only he can draw. This work of art plays a significant role throughout the poem, as it is the basis of communication between the Duke and the Count. The Duke draws the Count’s attention to the painting as a way to imply his main goal is “to acquire another Duchess who will respond solely to him and to that end he tells his Last Duchess’ story.” (33) There is a harsh reality that exists within the true meaning of this painting. The Duke is implying a cruel message to the Count through a beautiful piece of art. He requires the Count’s daughter to behave as he wishes, or she could end up as another work of art on his wall. “The Count would be well advised to instruct his daughter appropriately if he does not wish her to share the fate of her predecessor.” (221) The Duke allows people to perceive him only as he desires. In this situation, he labels himself as a victim of a woman that was “too soon made glad” (line 22) This work allows for the Duke to finally have the happiness that he never acquired with his previous Duchess while she was still in his presence. By having her as a private painting on his wall, he is now the only man she will ever smile at again, which gives him the power he always desired. Since the Duchess was painted “as if she were alive” (line 2) this is the Duke’s way of keeping her memory going and creating her as the woman he always expected her to be. This creates the perception that she seems to be more alive to him now than she ever was before.
It is revealed throughout the poem that the Duke and his former Duchess had a toxic relationship. In the beginning of the monologue, the Duke discloses to the Count how many people have asked him “how such a glance came” (line 12) to his Duchess’ face. This seems to be a raw spot of emotion for the Duke, as he implies that his previous Duchess was “too easily impressed; she liked whate’er she looked on, and her looks went everywhere”. (line 23-24) He further explains that this glance of hers “‘twas not her husband’s presence only” (line 13-14), and this was not acceptable in his eyes because she ranked his “gift of a nine-hundred-year-old name with anybody’s gift.” (line 33-34) Through this statement, the Duke is revealing that he was unable to love her if she was able to value others in the same way she valued him. At this point, we can perceive that the Duke believed his former Duchess enjoyed “the presence of men other than her husband.” (32) Since the Duke is referring to the painting, as opposed to the real person, we can assume the former Duchess is no longer in the picture. The marriage had failed since “her ways were indeed, totally incompatible with the static, hierarchic principle represented by her husband.” (221)
The Duke reveals his possessive nature through the painting of his last Duchess.
An element of control is exhibited through his behavior in regards to the painting since only he is able to open and close the curtain. The Duke seems to have a “related habit of treating people as objects. He is able to enjoy possession of his wife fully only when she has become a painting on the wall.” Only “then he can call that piece a wonder.” (222) Presenting his former Duchess as a painting allows him to control the perception of how others see her now; she has no voice to say otherwise. Throughout his marriage with his former Duchess, he was constantly dissatisfied with her smile, as she blushed at nearly every man who passed. To ultimately satisfy him, he “gave commands; then the smiles stopped together.” (line 46) Ironically enough, he still chose to have her presented with the smile he had grown to despise. To conclude the poem, the Duke addressing another painting of “Neptune taming a sea-horse, a creature symbolic of vitality and freedom.” (220) This subtly implies that the Duke would not allow the Count’s daughter to keep her freedom and liveliness. The Duke would represent Neptune, a man who holds great power and control, and the Counts daughter would represent the seahorse, who is being manipulated and forced to act in a certain way. The Duke intends that “His next Duchess’ fair self is his object”.
(222) “The Last Duchess”, written by Robert Browning, reveals a story of a Duke that exhibits control in all elements of his life, and discretely reveals these aspects of himself through his art, one in particular, his last Duchess. Art is an essential component of this dramatic monologue as it reveals the Duke’s expectations, elements of his former relationship with his last Duchess, and displays his obsession of complete control. The Duke “had fallen victim to rage and jealousy because his beautiful and delectable wife, who would have been such an admirable addition to his art collection if she only had let herself be lessened, had possessed too independent and spontaneous a spirit for the prison-museum which it was her duty to share with him” (222)