Robert Browning's My Last Duchess

Robert Browning's My Last Duchess is an intriguing example of how different voices can be represented in poetry. Through his dramatic monologue, Browning crafts a powerful narrative that speaks not only through the speaker but also to the reader, allowing multiple perspectives to shape the poem's interpretation. Wolosky suggests that there are four distinct poetic voices in this work: the poet, the reader, the imaginary speaker, and the addressee.

Four Voices in the Poem

The first voice is that of the poet himself, whose creation of the speaker gives life to the narrative. The second voice is that of the readers, who, as they engage with the poem, interpret and judge the actions of the speaker. The third is the voice of the imaginary speaker, the Duke of Ferrara, who recounts his experiences and views. Lastly, there is the addressee: the envoy sent by the count to negotiate the dowry for a marriage between the Duke and the count's daughter. The envoy serves as the listener, his voice largely implicit throughout the poem, which allows the speaker to dominate the narrative.

The Setting and the Plot

The poem takes place in the Duke's castle, where he is showing an envoy around and discussing the various artworks that adorn his walls. As they examine a portrait of the Duke's late wife, the Duchess, the Duke reveals disturbing details about her. His narrative unfolds as he talks about her smiles, her behavior, and the eventual tragic end that befell her. Though the Duke does not explicitly state that he had her killed, the implication is clear. The line, "Then all smiles stopped together," suggests that he was the one responsible for her death.

The Duke's motivation for the murder seems to stem from his desire for control. He demands complete obedience from his wife, seeing her as an object to possess. The portrait becomes a symbol of his power over her, even in death. The Duke's arrogance and self-centeredness shine through in lines such as "But to myself they turned (since none puts by / The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)." Here, the Duke asserts that only he has the right to reveal the portrait to others, underlining his belief in his supremacy.

The Duke's Possessiveness and Control

One of the most significant aspects of the poem is the Duke's treatment of the Duchess as an object to be controlled and owned. In the lines, "Of mine for dowry will be disallowed; / Though his fair daughter’s self, / as I avowed / At starting, is my object," the Duke reveals his true intentions. He does not care about the dowry; he wants the daughter as an object to possess, just as he did with his late wife. The painting of the Duchess on the wall is a continuation of this possessiveness, a way for the Duke to maintain control over her even after her death.

The poem's title, "My Last Duchess," also speaks to the Duke’s desire to move on to another woman to possess, continuing the cycle of control and objectification. When he refers to the portrait of the Duchess, it is clear that she exists only in the Duke’s terms, frozen in time as an image of his authority.

The Role of the Addressee: The Envoy

The envoy, as the silent addressee, plays a key role in the development of the poem's tension. His response to the Duke's disturbing revelations is not overtly expressed, but small gestures in the poem indicate his discomfort. The line, "Nay, we’ll go / Together down, sir," is significant because it suggests that the envoy, in his attempt to distance himself from the Duke’s ominous story, tries to leave, but the Duke insists they remain together. This moment hints at the envoy's internal reaction to the Duke’s confession of murder.

While the Duke continues to speak and control the situation, the envoy becomes privy to the Duke's dangerous nature. Though his voice is not explicitly presented in the poem, his reactions are inferred through subtle cues. In many ways, this mirrors the experience of the reader, who is also forced to reckon with the Duke’s cruelty and arrogance.

The Role of the Reader and the Poet

The reader of the poem, much like the envoy, is given access to the Duke’s thoughts and actions, leading to an inevitable judgment of his character. The Duke's behavior evokes strong dislike, as evidenced by lines such as "Somehow—I know not how—as if she ranked / My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody’s gift." The Duke's arrogant boasting about his noble lineage and his ability to control those around him further alienates the reader, fostering a sense of disdain.

In addition to the reader and the speaker, the poet also has a voice in the poem. Browning creates the framework for how the story unfolds, guiding the reader's emotional and intellectual response to the Duke’s narrative. While the Duke's voice dominates the poem, the poet crafts the environment in which all the other voices interact.

The Concept of Persona in the Poem

Wolosky’s idea of "persona" is key to understanding the role of the Duke in the poem. A persona is a dramatized character, not a reflection of the poet himself, but a creation designed to fulfill a specific role within the poem. In My Last Duchess, the Duke is such a persona—a character who embodies arrogance, cruelty, and a desire for control. While Browning, the poet, never directly speaks in the poem, he uses the persona of the Duke to explore themes of power, possession, and moral corruption.