A dramatic monologue is a story where the main character shares their inner most thoughts and exposes the reader to the speaker’s true personality thru little or no interaction with other characters. Curry observes that “[a] glance over English literature shows us the fact that the monologue was no sudden invention of Browning’s, but that it has been gradually developed, and is a natural form, as natural as the play.” Curry also states that the dramatic monologue “…was simply carried to perfection by Browning.” Browning’s My Last Duchess has a speaker with base emotions of controlling possessiveness, jealously and selfish pride, with a need to preserve what he feels rightfully belongs to him alone.
The Duke of Ferrara, in My Last Duchess, is controlling and extremely possessive of the duchess even in death. He insists on hiding the duchess’ portrait behind a curtain and he is the only one that reveals and conceals the portrait. He “…gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together,” (lines 45-46) and is now the only one who decides who is fortunate enough to gaze upon her smiles. The duke shows his controlling nature to the counts messenger as he “…monopolizes the conversation,” observed by Curry, by opening the curtain and discussing his last duchess instead of business about his future duchess.
The duke is jealous of his wife’s kind smiles and thankfulness that she bestows on everyone from the “officious fool” (27) that brought her a “bough of cherries” (27) to the Duke himself and his “nine-hundred-years-old name” (33). This does not sit well with the duke; he sees his name as being something to be proud of and a gift to be coveted above any other. That is why he is trying to impress this fact upon the counts messenger, so that his future duchess knows her place and what is expected of her. Jerman agrees and points out that the duke “…would tolerate no rivals for his next wife's smiles.”
The duke is selfish and prideful in that he refuses to “stoop,” (34) even “…to correct his first wife…” states Perrine. He is selfish in that he conceals her portrait for only his eyes and whomever he deems worthy to have a glance at her. He is proud of his nine hundred year old name and seemingly disgusted that his last duchess does not take any pride in it. The duke takes pride in his art collection pointing out “Neptune,” (54) and “Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, / Which Claus of Innisbruk cast in bronze for me!” (55-56) which also shows off his wealth.
The Duke of Ferrara’s interview with the counts messenger seems to be a warning for the future duchess. The duke, in his arrogance, shows how ruthless he can be if he deems it necessary to preserve his status in society. Browning left it to the reader’s imagination as to what really happened to the duke’s last duchess, but it is clear that the duke’s selfish pride, possessiveness and jealously led to the duchess early and mysterious demise.
Works Cited
Browning, Robert. "My Last Duchess." The Portable Poetry Home Page - Customised, Portable Collections of Poetry. 2001. Web. 12 Apr. 2011.
Curry, S. S. Browning and the Dramatic Monologue. Boston: Expression, 1908. Print/e-book.
Jerman, B. R. "Browning's Witless Duke." PMLA 72.3 (Jun. 1957): 488-93. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.
Perrine, Laurence. "Browning's Shrewd Duke." PMLA 74.1 (Mar. 1959): 157-59. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.
Sessions, Ina Beth. "The Dramatic Monologue." PMLA 62.2 (Jun. 1947): 503-16. JSTOR. Web. 22 Apr. 2011.
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