Resumo de My Last Duchess - Robert Browning

Robert Browning?s My Last Duchess is about an aristocratic Duke talking with a messenger who is there to arrange a marriage between the Duke and a Count?s daughter. The poem is written in dramatic monologue and it makes the readers feel like eavesdropping on the conversations. While the monologue is going on, readers learn lot about the Duke?s character. Even though he is trying to make himself look as if he is a great candidate for the Count?s daughter, his approach to his ex-wife?s character shows his inner self- as a jealous and arrogant man. It can be said that jealousy is the most important and the clearest theme in the poem. The best way to start would be with a question. What kind of a person is the Duke and how does this affect the poem? First of all, it is very obvious that he is a very jealous person. He could not stand his ex-wife is smiling at everyone. He is jealous of her so much so that he even wants to hide the glance in her face in the portrait with a curtain. Moreover, I think he is very bossy. He keeps giving commands to everyone. He really likes to boss people around and thinks he has the right because he comes from an aristocratic family. Everyone else is like his slaves. This includes his ex-wife also. He is so mad that his wife does not treat him like God that he thinks she diminishes his value by not acting like that. He suggests that she was committing a crime by being kind to others. He says she humiliated him by being nice to other people and smiling at them. This great expression of jealousy shows that he cannot stand the fact that his wife is a very nice person and respects everyone at least to salute them with an innocent smile. However, the Duke finds this gesture very degenerated and improper. He thinks she makes a great mistake and does not even notice or apologize. Actually he says he would be lessened even if she did apologize; however it is obvious that he waited for an apology from his wifeAs it comes to his wife, I understand that she was a moderate, nice and graceful woman. She shows respect and does not look down anyone. She is someone who can be easily happy and finds delight in simple pleasures. According to these characteristics, she has actually very good deeds and qualities that anyone would want to expect from his wife; however, the Duke finds these qualities very disturbing and humiliating. He thinks he is so great and noble that she dishonor him with her nice attitude. I think this is the break point for the poem because the Duke actually talks to a representative of his future fiancé and tries to look good to him. While talking about his ex-wife, he reflects all the ?bad? things upon her. However, ?bad? is a relative concept. What he thinks of bad habits and characteristics, actually very good according to lots of people. Even though I do not know what the representative thinks about the Duke, I know my feelings as an objective reader. He is being ironic to criticize his ex-wife. He says she humiliates him; however, I think he is the one who humiliates her by talking bad about her after she dies. Furthermore, it is funny that while he is trying to impress the messenger, he shows his worst sides to him without even noticing. He thinks he is talking about his ex-wife?s shortcomings; however, the only imperfect person is himself. His wife is just nice and compassionate. And that suggests that he is not as bright as he thinks he is. Because all the things he says suggest that he may not tolerate his future wife?s ?shortcomings? either. All he wants is to have someone with a great deal of money in terms of ?dowry? who will have nothing to do but adore him only, obey his commands, power, and loyalty. Or he may ?kill? the deal! He shows what he really cares maybe indirectly but clearly. He wants his future wife to bring money and worship him no matter what. Also she should not pay any attention to others and act cruel and cold. Even than, I get the feeling that the Duke sees her as his object, most likely as one of his pieces of art. To sum up, I cannot claim that the duke killed his wife or have something to hide it but all the hints gave me the idea that he is cruel, cold and bossy. And all he wants is admiration of others and have the capacity to do something bad. The way he talks with the messenger is very controlling and the way he talks about his ex-wife is very jealous and despising. All those things shows me that he is no good and does not even understand his ex wife value for she is caring, respectful, humble and modest.

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