My Last Duchess. The Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning in an Iambic pentameter.

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The Last Duchess

The Last Duchess is a dramatic monologue written by Robert Browning in an Iambic pentameter. The poem is based during the Renaissance years, in Italy, and revolves around the Duke of Ferrara, and his cruel disposition towards his late, adolescent wife, the Duchess. The poem dwells along the lines of an intense framework of dark emotions and sentiments, and through this, Browning has been successful in establishing a historical context, shadowed by themes of overwhelming cruelty, deception, and domination. The poet, using a story line as support, has carefully created the image of a stereotypical Renaissance man and the status of women in the era. Not only that, but in an attempt to bring out these several aspects, Browning has channelled his intentions through the extensive use of literary devices such as enjambments, metaphors, synecdoche etc. This brings out an artistic touch to the poem, perhaps illustrating its connection the Renaissance era. This essay is going to explore various aspects to this poem, and will critically analyze its relevance to the time context.

The poem starts off with a stereotypical Renaissance setting, of an art gallery, with the Duke showing off his extensive collection to