The Last Duchess

ROBERT BROWNING 

Born in 1812 in London. 

Died in 1889 in Venice. 

Wrote his first poetry book aged 12.

Married Elizabeth Barret (a famous poet) in 1845.

First visited Italy in 1838 - he lived there through most of his adult life. 

'My Last Duchess' was published in 1842.

THE CONTEXT 

During 1842 there were a lot of changes. Such as: industrialisation, attitudes to women and religion - science contradicted some of the bible.

When women married, they became the legal property of their husbands.

They could not vote or testify in court. 

It was believed that women were incapable of rational thought. 

Many female writers published their work anonymously or under male names to boost sales - including Jane Austen. Women could publish, but their literature was not taken seriously compared to mens literature.

Whole poem explores attitude to women. Was the poem a criticism of Victorian attitudes to women and their efforts to surpress female sexuality?

Could be argued that the Dukes obsession with fixing his wife links to Victoria societys obsession of the reputation of women being perfect. 

Victorian men weakened by the power they have over women. 

Men saw their wives as a reflection of themselves. 

THE LITERAL MEANING OF THE POEM 

A man showing another man a painting of his ex wife.

THEMES

Power

- political power demenstrated in the ambiguous line 'I gave commands'.

- domestic power - the duke wants to use his political power to control his wife (role of women).

LANGUAGE 

'her looks went everywhere' was the duchess promiscuous? the duke was disgusted by her. She…