The language techniques used in this poem emphasize the Duke’s Last Duchess’s flirtatious character. They also hint to us the themes of murder, jealousy, suspicion and the Duke’s psychopathic character. The word ‘I’ is quite often used. “The curtain I have drawn for you, but I…” This means that the poem is a dramatic monologue.
The metaphor used in the middle of the poem hints to the audience that he has great passion towards her. “My favour at her breast, the dropping of the daylight in the West”. Here the Duke tells us that he believed he had a seat at her heart. However her passion for him was diminishing as quickly as a day’s sunset in the West. The daylight is such a beautiful thing, but her love for him was like the ‘dropping of daylight’ meaning that he was losing such a beauty and he regretted. This metaphor used is a tragic metaphor.
The rhetorical question used on line 23 reflects his anger. “A heart – how shall I say? – too soon made glad…” this quote explains that she was pleased by all men, and the Duke was struggling to find a way to express himself successfully. This is because he was so bothered by the fact that he didn’t satisfy her enough since she needed the satisfaction from other men. His frustration also reflects that there is an element of jealousy within him. “Oh sir, she smiled…” The poet makes use of a sibilant, which is an irritating sound to hear. This emphasizes his anger and frustration. He never refers to her by name, which reflects his disturbed character.
After all of the Duke’s anger builds up, we learn that he lets out all of his frustration in a very negative and disturbed manner. “This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands as if alive.” The deliberate ambiguity used in this sentence hints to the audience that he has murdered her.
The poem is one extended verse and there is a stream of consciousness in what the Duke is saying. This shows that he is not really thinking about what he is saying; he’s just speaking the numerous thoughts that are in his mind. The poet makes use of enjambrement at many times throughout the poem. “She rode with round the terrace – all and each…She thanked men, - good! But thanked – somehow – I know not how – as if…” This again reflects his disjointed feelings and his disturbed state of mind. It shows that he was very angry from her actions but he had so much passion towards her that he regretted ever losing her.
