Looking into the power hierarchy during the italian renaissance. Its about alfonzo II duke of farara who supposedly killed his wife. Its all about his feelings and how he is possesive. He trys to mould his wife into his wanting. It was written in the 19th century.
When the poem says 'Then all smiles stopped together' this shows the moment of the wifes death. He then keeps a portrait of his wife which is symbolised like a 'hunting trophy' whic he shows off to any visiters. This symbolises his wife as bieng trapped in the photo.
You get the feeling that the duke is mad. He imagines that his wife is 'flirtatious' but she isn't.
The duke is alienated by his own self obsestion.
Its set when the duke is organising a wedding to a local counts daughter and is like a warning that if she misbehaves, he will do the same.
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