Comments on: “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/ A blog for the Honors section of PSU's General Education course: Murder, Mayhem, Madness Wed, 16 May 2007 08:53:31 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Heather http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-25 Heather Thu, 05 Apr 2007 21:06:32 +0000 #comment-25 It seems to be that the Duchess was a "cocquette". I gathered from many lines in the poem that she was definately a flirt, however there was nothing to make me believe she was an adultress. She smiled at other men and it gave her a rush but there's no harm no foul if you look but don't touch in my opinion. The Duke appears to be a jealous man who had her killed for her flirtatious ways. It seems to be that the Duchess was a “cocquette”. I gathered from many lines in the poem that she was definately a flirt, however there was nothing to make me believe she was an adultress. She smiled at other men and it gave her a rush but there’s no harm no foul if you look but don’t touch in my opinion. The Duke appears to be a jealous man who had her killed for her flirtatious ways.

]]> By: Samantha Bushey http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-24 Samantha Bushey Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:04:30 +0000 #comment-24 I forgot to add the website where i found this info at, but you can find the info at: http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/rb/pva264.html I forgot to add the website where i found this info at, but you can find the info at:
http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/rb/pva264.html

]]> By: Samantha Bushey http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-23 Samantha Bushey Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:03:43 +0000 #comment-23 I found this great website that applies a number of modern critical theories to this poem by Robert Browning. The one that I chose to focus on was the feminist theory which I believe is very interesting. For example, for the following passage: I call That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hand Worked busily a day, and there she stands. the feminist theory "demonstrates that only "now," after a passage of time, the Duke has forgotten the woman he had to dispose of and is free to admire the virtuosity of the (male) painter who has transcribed that woman's chief commodity, her beauty, in a less threatening form" It is interesting to think that the Duke would have felt threatened by the woman simply because of her beauty. It is also interesting to think that the portrait of the last duchess could be seen as a symbol of compliance in marriage. Now, a look at another passage: That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. For this passage, the feminist view states that "The Duke implies to the Count's envoy that the painting is superior to the original because the (male) artist has infused the face with an earnestness and depth of passion that the lady herself lacked." This is very similar to other poems of the time in which women were portrayed as subservient to men. For this reason it is interesting to think of a painting as a way to show that man is superior to women. I found this great website that applies a number of modern critical theories to this poem by Robert Browning. The one that I chose to focus on was the feminist theory which I believe is very interesting. For example, for the following passage:
I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf’s hand
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
the feminist theory “demonstrates that only “now,” after a passage of time, the Duke has forgotten the woman he had to dispose of and is free to admire the virtuosity of the (male) painter who has transcribed that woman’s chief commodity, her beauty, in a less threatening form”
It is interesting to think that the Duke would have felt threatened by the woman simply because of her beauty. It is also interesting to think that the portrait of the last duchess could be seen as a symbol of compliance in marriage.
Now, a look at another passage:
That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive.
For this passage, the feminist view states that “The Duke implies to the Count’s envoy that the painting is superior to the original because the (male) artist has infused the face with an earnestness and depth of passion that the lady herself lacked.”
This is very similar to other poems of the time in which women were portrayed as subservient to men. For this reason it is interesting to think of a painting as a way to show that man is superior to women.

]]> By: Katelyn S http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-22 Katelyn S Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:31:14 +0000 #comment-22 After reading this poem, I got to thinking that maybe the Duchess didn't want to marry the Duke, and that it was an arranged marriage, so I decided to do some research into that. An arranged marriage is a marriage when a person marries someone that their parents chose for them to marry. Arranged marriages are not all to common anymore. Most arrange marriages now-a-days take place in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. There are 5 types of arranged marriages. 1. Forced Marriage- this is when parents will choose their son or daughter's spouse with out any input from them. If the son or daughter refuses, they may be punished, or even killed. 2. Traditional Arranged Marriage (not forced) - this is when the parents will choose a potential spouse with some input from their son or daughter. If the son or daughter does not like the potential spouse, the parents will usually respect their wishes, and move on to another spouse. 3. Modern Arranged Marriage- this is when the parents will choose several potential spouses and the son or daughter's wishes are more respected. The families will usually meet, and the couple will usually have a short date. The son or daughter will usually get to choose who they want to marry, although there will be a certain amount of pressure to choose who the parents think is acceptable. 4. Modern Arranged Marriage with courtship- this is the same as the modern arranged marriage, although there is usually an long period of phone calls, emails, and dates before the son or daughter makes the decision. 5. Introduction only marriage- this is when the son or daughter will be introduced to their potential spouse. Then the parents will talk to the parents of the potential spouse. From there, it is up to the couple to make the choice. After seeing all these types, I feel that the Duchess had forced marriage, because she would look at other men, leading me to believe that she didn't really love the Duke, she just married him to avoid punishment from her family. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriage After reading this poem, I got to thinking that maybe the Duchess didn’t want to marry the Duke, and that it was an arranged marriage, so I decided to do some research into that.

An arranged marriage is a marriage when a person marries someone that their parents chose for them to marry. Arranged marriages are not all to common anymore. Most arrange marriages now-a-days take place in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. There are 5 types of arranged marriages.

1. Forced Marriage- this is when parents will choose their son or daughter’s spouse with out any input from them. If the son or daughter refuses, they may be punished, or even killed.

2. Traditional Arranged Marriage (not forced) – this is when the parents will choose a potential spouse with some input from their son or daughter. If the son or daughter does not like the potential spouse, the parents will usually respect their wishes, and move on to another spouse.

3. Modern Arranged Marriage- this is when the parents will choose several potential spouses and the son or daughter’s wishes are more respected. The families will usually meet, and the couple will usually have a short date. The son or daughter will usually get to choose who they want to marry, although there will be a certain amount of pressure to choose who the parents think is acceptable.

4. Modern Arranged Marriage with courtship- this is the same as the modern arranged marriage, although there is usually an long period of phone calls, emails, and dates before the son or daughter makes the decision.

5. Introduction only marriage- this is when the son or daughter will be introduced to their potential spouse. Then the parents will talk to the parents of the potential spouse. From there, it is up to the couple to make the choice.

After seeing all these types, I feel that the Duchess had forced marriage, because she would look at other men, leading me to believe that she didn’t really love the Duke, she just married him to avoid punishment from her family.

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arranged_marriage

]]> By: John Grandi http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-21 John Grandi Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:24:05 +0000 #comment-21 Alright, since I am getting to this late, I have rather slim pickings for what to discuss, but i thought the actual form of the poem would be pretty interesting. Browning writes this in Iambic Pentameter, which is normally pretty easy to read, it's the way Shakespeare wrote his works. But since he broke it into 28 rhymed couplets, it made it, for me atleast, alittle more difficult to read. You had to focus more, instead of just going from rhyme to rhyme as some people do when writing poetry. Browning wrote this as though the Duke has just pulled the cover off the painting, and is describing it to a man standing there. He waits untill almost the end to actually give the listener an identity. "The Count your master’s known munificence Is ample warrant that no just pretense Of mine for dowry will be disallowed; Though his fair daughter’s self as I avowed At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go" The listener is a messanger sent from a Count. The Duke wishes to arrange a marriage with this Count's daughter. Though it is odd that the Duke would be showing this painting and hinting that he murdered his former wife on suspicons of murder to the messanger, it is assumed the messanger would just run back to his master and inform him of everything he heard. But, seeing as rumors were probably flying around everywhere any, the Duke probably figured he should just acknowledge it. That was fun. John Alright, since I am getting to this late, I have rather slim pickings for what to discuss, but i thought the actual form of the poem would be pretty interesting.

Browning writes this in Iambic Pentameter, which is normally pretty easy to read, it’s the way Shakespeare wrote his works. But since he broke it into 28 rhymed couplets, it made it, for me atleast, alittle more difficult to read. You had to focus more, instead of just going from rhyme to rhyme as some people do when writing poetry.
Browning wrote this as though the Duke has just pulled the cover off the painting, and is describing it to a man standing there. He waits untill almost the end to actually give the listener an identity.

“The Count your master’s known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretense
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter’s self as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay, we’ll go”

The listener is a messanger sent from a Count. The Duke wishes to arrange a marriage with this Count’s daughter. Though it is odd that the Duke would be showing this painting and hinting that he murdered his former wife on suspicons of murder to the messanger, it is assumed the messanger would just run back to his master and inform him of everything he heard. But, seeing as rumors were probably flying around everywhere any, the Duke probably figured he should just acknowledge it.

That was fun.
John

]]> By: Ashley Shaw http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-20 Ashley Shaw Thu, 05 Apr 2007 03:46:11 +0000 #comment-20 I think that the Duchess was right in her actions. Who in their right mind would want to be commited to someone who treats them as a mere possession? The Duke deserved being a bit humiliated by his Duchess as she cheated on him because of the way he thought of and treated her as his wife. The Duke states "She had/ A heart — how shall I say? — too soon made glad,/ Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er/ She looked on..." By saying this, he is admittingly stating that the Duchess married him because she was impressed, but also suggests that all he had to offer was his name. If she was so "easily impressed," then that goes for how she felt about him as well. He clearly had nothing more than a name to offer, which is the underlying reason that the Duchess got bored with him and looked for something more. At least the days that she did live, she was enjoying herself, as opposed to being miserable for her entire lifetime with the Duke. I think she may have known the potential consequences of her actions, because as was previously posted, adultery was a forbidden action in those days. Having a better time with the chance of being killed was worth the risk to the Duchess. I think that the Duchess was right in her actions. Who in their right mind would want to be commited to someone who treats them as a mere possession? The Duke deserved being a bit humiliated by his Duchess as she cheated on him because of the way he thought of and treated her as his wife.

The Duke states “She had/ A heart — how shall I say? — too soon made glad,/ Too easily impressed; she liked whate’er/ She looked on…” By saying this, he is admittingly stating that the Duchess married him because she was impressed, but also suggests that all he had to offer was his name. If she was so “easily impressed,” then that goes for how she felt about him as well. He clearly had nothing more than a name to offer, which is the underlying reason that the Duchess got bored with him and looked for something more. At least the days that she did live, she was enjoying herself, as opposed to being miserable for her entire lifetime with the Duke. I think she may have known the potential consequences of her actions, because as was previously posted, adultery was a forbidden action in those days. Having a better time with the chance of being killed was worth the risk to the Duchess.

]]> By: Natalie http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-19 Natalie Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:43:23 +0000 #comment-19 After having read this poem, I was forced to think of the Tudor family and their affairs with the King of England. I read a few historical fiction books this summer about the family, and the way Browning describes the Duchess really reminds me of the way Anne Boleyn is described: http://tudorhistory.org/boleyn/ Here's a portrait of Anne which is similar to the one of the Duchess that Aly found: http://tudorhistory.org/boleyn/annebmin.jpg Also, the poem is very telling of how women were treated in those days by any man of power. In Anne's case, she was hanged for not being able to produce a male heir, although the "real reason" was for treason. The Duchess of Ferrara seems to have suffered the same fate, although hers was probably due to suspected adultery. I doubt, however, that she actually was an adulterer, but rather I think she simply enjoyed living. I believe that the Duke was simply jealous of how full of life she was, taking pleasure in the smallest things, and so he snapped and had her murdered. I can't help but wonder what the kingdom's reaction was to that, as it sounds like she was an incredibly popular woman. After having read this poem, I was forced to think of the Tudor family and their affairs with the King of England. I read a few historical fiction books this summer about the family, and the way Browning describes the Duchess really reminds me of the way Anne Boleyn is described: http://tudorhistory.org/boleyn/ Here’s a portrait of Anne which is similar to the one of the Duchess that Aly found: http://tudorhistory.org/boleyn/annebmin.jpg
Also, the poem is very telling of how women were treated in those days by any man of power. In Anne’s case, she was hanged for not being able to produce a male heir, although the “real reason” was for treason. The Duchess of Ferrara seems to have suffered the same fate, although hers was probably due to suspected adultery. I doubt, however, that she actually was an adulterer, but rather I think she simply enjoyed living. I believe that the Duke was simply jealous of how full of life she was, taking pleasure in the smallest things, and so he snapped and had her murdered. I can’t help but wonder what the kingdom’s reaction was to that, as it sounds like she was an incredibly popular woman.

]]> By: Greg Goujon http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-18 Greg Goujon Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:37:16 +0000 #comment-18 Accidentally hit enter soooo here's what i meant to finish with :(. Who'd stoop to blame This sort of trifling? Even had you skill In speech - (which I have not) - to make your will Quite clear to such a one, and say, "Just this Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss Or there exceed the mark"- and if she let Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse - E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose Never to stoop. I think Browning's decision to use the Duke as the narrator was very intelligent and made the poem have a lot of more feeling to it. WE could relate more to this poem because, in essence, we were brought into his mind with all the dashes and the parantheses. This was key because if it were written any different way it would lose a lot of its meaning. The conversation that we have with the Duke makes the poem more personal effectively making us think about what an ass this Duke is. Here's the link that helped me with this poem: http://mason.gmu.edu/~lsmithg/275duchess.htm#that. Pce, Greg Accidentally hit enter soooo here’s what i meant to finish with :( .

Who’d stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech – (which I have not) – to make your will
Quite clear to such a one, and say, “Just this
Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss
Or there exceed the mark”- and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse
- E’en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop.

I think Browning’s decision to use the Duke as the narrator was very intelligent and made the poem have a lot of more feeling to it. WE could relate more to this poem because, in essence, we were brought into his mind with all the dashes and the parantheses. This was key because if it were written any different way it would lose a lot of its meaning. The conversation that we have with the Duke makes the poem more personal effectively making us think about what an ass this Duke is. Here’s the link that helped me with this poem: http://mason.gmu.edu/~lsmithg/275duchess.htm#that. Pce,
Greg

]]> By: Greg Goujon http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-17 Greg Goujon Wed, 04 Apr 2007 22:31:01 +0000 #comment-17 I thought I would take a stab at the tone of the narrator, being the duke. Browning does a very good job making the tone of the narrator seem like he were having a conversation with us. Browning uses many different tools to create the impression that we are having a discussion with the Duke. He uses devices such as contractions (like That's and Will 't), parentheses, broken trains of thought that recur later, random successions of arguments and illustrations, and abrupt changes of direction. Throughout the poem the Duke gives us more information than needed. This, however, gives us a better view of who the Duke is and the kind of person that he is. Browning also gives us insight into the Duke's thoughts and feelings by breaking up the writing with dashes (-) which are used to represent the Duke's thoughts. I thought I would take a stab at the tone of the narrator, being the duke. Browning does a very good job making the tone of the narrator seem like he were having a conversation with us. Browning uses many different tools to create the impression that we are having a discussion with the Duke. He uses devices such as contractions (like That’s and Will ‘t), parentheses, broken trains of thought that recur later, random successions of arguments and illustrations, and abrupt changes of direction. Throughout the poem the Duke gives us more information than needed. This, however, gives us a better view of who the Duke is and the kind of person that he is. Browning also gives us insight into the Duke’s thoughts and feelings by breaking up the writing with dashes (-) which are used to represent the Duke’s thoughts.

]]> By: Sarah J http://amfried.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/hello-world/#comment-16 Sarah J Wed, 04 Apr 2007 21:02:25 +0000 #comment-16 The part the stuck out the most to me was this: “She thanked men — good! but thanked Somehow — I know not how — as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name” This part of the poem gave me the impression that the Duke thought he had a higher social status than the Duchess. He thought she should feel honored that he chose her to marry, but she wasn’t; she looked at other men and this made the Duke angry. The part the stuck out the most to me was this:

“She thanked men — good! but thanked
Somehow — I know not how — as if she ranked
My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name”

This part of the poem gave me the impression that the Duke thought he had a higher social status than the Duchess. He thought she should feel honored that he chose her to marry, but she wasn’t; she looked at other men and this made the Duke angry.

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