Psychological analysis of "My Last Duchess", "Soliloquy in a Spanish Cloister" and "Porphyrias Lover".

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Psychological Analysis

My Last Duchess

The poem is written in the voice of the Duke of Ferrara, who is entertaining an envoy from the Duke’s soon-to-be father-in-law. As the duke hosts the envoy, they stop at a portrait of the Duke’s late duchess. Entranced by his own words as he reminisces about her, the Duke begins to reveal more than intended.

Initially the Duke presents himself as a man very controlled and self-possessed. His name-dropping of a famous artists’ suggests his sophistication; the fact that he has a personal artwork painted by a famous artist illustrates his wealth and power. Describing the painting, the Dukes choice of words suggest a violent demise of his late duchess. “Half flush that dies along her throat” this leads us to believe she was strangled or beheaded, both very controlling deaths.

The Duke then proceeds to describe his late wife’s seemingly flirtatious nature.

“She had/ A heart -how shall I say? -  too soon made glad, /Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er/She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.”

However, in doing so, his speech deceives him, and uncovers a threatening tone to the envoy coupled with our discovery of the Duke’s immense sexual jealousy. In the midst of his jealous rage the Duke reveals that he is the cause of his wife’s early death. “I gave commands;/then all smiles stopped together” This again paints his power, superiority, and moreover, his malicious, ruthless, and naive nature.

The Duke struggles to conceal his true personality, however, ironically, it seeps through his superficial speech. “Even had you skill/in speech-(which I have not)-“ The Duke cleverly attempts to insinuate modesty, but on the contrary, in doing so, he emits arrogance. “…I choose/Never to stoop…” The Duke says this rather conceited statement later on in the poem as he reveals more of himself, through the frustration in remembering his disobedient wife.

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Through his attempts of displaying intimidation, superiority, and innocence, the Duke unintentionally unravels his psychopathic character. He tries too hard to veil his insecurity, anxiety, and frustration, and as a result reveals it all too easily.

Soliloquy in a Spanish Cloister

The poem is written in the quibblings of a monk, condemning a fellow monk, Brother Lawrence. As the monk depicts his own impeccable manner, he accuses Brother Lawrence to be inferior, selfish, and immoral. On the contrary, the monk illustrates his hypocracy, as he is everything that which he claims Brother Lawrence to be.

In the first stanza ...

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