Robert Browning - 'The Last Duchess' - 'Write a letter to the count whether or not he should let his daughter marry the Duke'.
RASHID ZAMIR RESPONSE TO LITERATURE- POETRY (PRE-1900)
ROBERT BROWNING- 'THE LAST DUCHESS'
'Write a letter to the count whether or not he should let his daughter marry the Duke'
Dear Count
I have visited the duke at his home and have come to a conclusion. I don't think you should give your daughter to him.
When I visited him he sounded happy and joyful. I thought he was a nice guy and a perfect match for your daughter. But all things changed.
Whilst touring around his home, he took me downstairs to a dark room. When he turned the lights on, all I saw was loads of amazing pictures surrounding the room. Whilst looking at the pictures one specific picture caught my eye. It was covered in a red distinctive curtain. I wondered what was behind it and before I knew it the duke dragged me across the room towards the painting. He then took off the red curtain and revealed to me a portrait of a beautiful woman. He said
'That's my last duchess painted on the wall, looking as if she was were alive.'
When I heard this quote I was quite surprised, because he said that she was looking, as she was alive, which makes me assume that she is dead. I then started to compliment the portrait because the woman was amazing in it, I couldn't get my eyes off it. When the duke saw me staring at the picture he quickly dropped the curtain and started to talk about the artist who painted it.
He described the way she posed for the portrait and I could feel the duke's jealousy because he doesn't like the way she ...
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When I heard this quote I was quite surprised, because he said that she was looking, as she was alive, which makes me assume that she is dead. I then started to compliment the portrait because the woman was amazing in it, I couldn't get my eyes off it. When the duke saw me staring at the picture he quickly dropped the curtain and started to talk about the artist who painted it.
He described the way she posed for the portrait and I could feel the duke's jealousy because he doesn't like the way she is looking at the painter, Frà Pandolf. After listening to the Duke he gave me the impression that he thinks the painter was his wife's lover.
I asked the duke what was the duchess like and he said that the duchess was a kind, happy person, who found joy in all things. I smiled and said that there are not many women like that anymore.
He then started to talk negatively and said that she found joy in compliments from other men. He started to be hesitant and started to talk about bad things that she had done, which I thought wasn't bad.
He said that she looked at other men and smiled at them, which made the men give compliments. He did not like this because he thinks that she was only his. He then said that he only wanted was her respect but all he could see was pleasure all around her,
"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"
I told him that this wasn't bad and she was just being kind and polite, but he refused to listen to me and said,
"She thanked men, - good! But thanked
Somehow- I know not how- as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name
With anybody's gift"
This meant that she gave favours too willingly and did not value his nobility and all it stood for. I thought this was totally being selfish, if she wanted to act the way she did she has every right to do so. End of the day she is an individual person and he should have appreciated for what she was. She probably didn't marry him for his so called nine-hundred-years-old name anyway.
I asked the duke as what had happened to his wife, how did she die? The loss of his beloved wife must be heart aching. But he then said to me this following statement,
'This grew; I gave commands
Then all smiles stopped together.'
I was confused when I heard this and said to him what do you mean? He replied that he had killed her because he couldn't take anymore and he wanted her for himself.
I was stunned. My mouth was wide open, I didn't know what to say next. How could a husband kill a beautiful wife like that, it is awful!
The death of the duchess is a cold move by the Duke. His excuse was that he wanted to remove the source of jealousy. He does not show any sympathy or understanding for his late wife.
To me, he looks like a 'women collector', like he collects art. He now has his eyes for your daughter and I say don't give it to him. He said to me,
"Though his fair daughter's self, as I vowed
At starting, is my object"
This is my proof that he is a women collector. The word 'object', that he uses, means aim and his aim is to get your daughter.
He then states to me that,
"Nay, we'll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!"
Here he is making a comparison to his own aims in capturing his next wife. I believe that he is comparing himself as Neptune, being all-powerful, and compares this young woman to a sea horse, in the way that it could be so tamed. He is also trying to tell me that he his in control of his own household.
I think this person is totally mad and has lost it. I sincerely hope that you don't give your daughter to him because he will capture her and lock her in his household. He won't let her see other people and keep her to himself. He might probably kill her aswell if she doesn't obey him.
I have given you my opinion and hope you make the right decision.
Yours sincerely
The ambassador
