My Last Duchess

My Last Duchess

“Who is the Duke of Ferrara?” It is more difficult for some to mask their personality traits than others. Even though the Duke of Ferrara, in “My Last Duchess,” a poem by Robert Browning, attempted to conceal his traits he could still be seen through. In the midst of a party, the duke steps aside for the negotiation of an alliance. The more the duke aims to cover his traits the more apparent they became. The duke did not intend for his arrogance to be shown as much as it was. The poem had an arrogant tone. He made a point to put emphasis on himself or “I.” The extra comment “since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you, but I” was not required. He felt the “gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name” should not be equal to lesser gifts from others. The one trait that was the most apparent was his possessiveness. The first line sums it up with, “That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall.” It would have been just as simple to say, look at the painting on the wall. As they are returning to the party the duke is sure to point out more of his expensive artwork. The first thought of his shrewdness is the whereabouts of his last duchess. He never mentions her location. Questions of her death, banishment, or incarceration come to mind. When the duke could not handle the smiles anymore, he ordered them to cease. The smiles stopped. All the effort put into hiding his personality was useless. He was transparent. No matter how much energy is put into hiding ones personality, the true person will always be seen.

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Words: 281