My Last Duchess Analysis-Ari Salkin-Weiss
"My Last Duchess," though not nearly as dark in my opinion as "Porphyria's Lover," contains equally sinister tones. The poem starts with the duke recounting of how the painting of his last duchess was made. As he tells the count about the duchess, hints of jealously start to appear in his words, like when the count asks about why the duchess had a certain look on her face (most likely blushing or smiling), the duke says "Sir, twas not her husbands presence only, called that spot of joy into the Duchess' cheek" (13-15 Brownings). Since the duchess was easily flattered, the duke got more and more upset that her smiles were shared with others despite them not being her husband. Eventually he confesses that he wished "she let Herself be lessoned," (39-40) which eerily foreshadows what happens when the smiling didn't stop: "This grew; I gave commands; then all the smiles stopped together" (45-46). He then negotiates the arranged marriage with the count as they head downstairs, passing a statue of Neptune taming a sea horse.
Like "Porphyria's Lover," the twist comes from the fact the last duchess died of by the duke's hands despite her gentle nature. The duke also shares similar wants and desires as to those of Porphyria's lover, as they both wanted to control the beings and fate around them by killing off the things to preserve their memory. He even equates himself to something akin to a god, as the statue of Neptune at the end could represent himself "taming" his wife into something more suitable. Another interpretation perhaps is that he is a god taming fate, as now he acquire a better lover that will more suit his needs. Either way, this poem is very disturbing.
-Ari Salkin-Weiss
Like "Porphyria's Lover," the twist comes from the fact the last duchess died of by the duke's hands despite her gentle nature. The duke also shares similar wants and desires as to those of Porphyria's lover, as they both wanted to control the beings and fate around them by killing off the things to preserve their memory. He even equates himself to something akin to a god, as the statue of Neptune at the end could represent himself "taming" his wife into something more suitable. Another interpretation perhaps is that he is a god taming fate, as now he acquire a better lover that will more suit his needs. Either way, this poem is very disturbing.
-Ari Salkin-Weiss
Even though both men killed a woman in order to "control" her, I think it's interesting that they each had very different ideas about what the woman should be doing. Porphyria's lover wanted her to pay more attention to him, but the narrator of "My Last Duchess" seems to wish that she would appreciate him less, like he's sick of her. Even though they had different intentions they both reached the conclusion that murder was the best solution.
ReplyDeleteTrying to incorporate the essential elements piece into this poem, I think its wild the Duke is speaking to his future son-in-law. I agree with Nick Krasnow's interpreted dichotomy that Porphyria's Lover and the Duke both have different motives. Additionally, I noticed Ari pointed out the Duke is akin to a God, while Porphyria's love is looking for God to respond to his actions.
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