My Last Dutchess Essay, Research Paper

There are many things to look at when one tries to analyze a poem. Once he/she knows what the story is about, they could look at the speaker’s point of view, along with many other things. For Example: setting, language, figures of speech, symbols, atmosphere and mood, characterization, theme and conflicts are just some of the other methods that could be used. Finally, the analyzer should say what the whole poem’s underlying meaning is.

The poem, “My Last Duchess,” is about a Duke who is describing his last duchess to a messenger of the Count. He says how beautiful she was and all the different things about her. She was a flirt, who would please a man whenever she was complimented. This behavior eventually caused the Duke to have her killed because he could not put up with her anymore. In the end, it looks like the Duke is trying to sway the messenger to convince the Count to let him marry the Count’s daughter.

The speaker in poetry is very important. He/She tells the reader what is going on and what meanings can be taken from the poem. Certain things can have different meanings, depending on who the reader thinks the speaker is. In “My Last Duchess,” the speaker is the Duke. He provides the reader with his side of the story of why his last duchess is dead. In the beginning of the poem, the reader thinks that his duchess is still alive, because of the comments that are made. “This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands as if alive.” This is the line where he tells the readers that her behavior worsened to the point that he could not take anymore. He gave the commands to kill her. All of her smiles at different guys compliments stopped at once. There she is, in this painting, standing as she did when she was still alive.

The setting is also influential to the reader, because it gives them a background as to why the characters are acting the way they do. This poem is set in 19th century London, England. The setting is needed to understand the last section of the poem:

“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.”

In that time, the husband was expected to ask the father of the girl for her hand in marriage. Then he was to ask for money to start out their lives with. The duke says that the Count is known for his generosity and that whatever the Count wants to give as a dowry, the duke will accept. He will be fair because, he is not looking for money. He is looking for the Count’s daughter; she is the object for him.

In conclusion, there are many different things one can do to analyze a poem. The speaker is an influential person on what point of view the story is. He or she makes the poem mean different things. The setting can tell a reader the background of why certain characters are acting and the way they do. It also helps the readers delve into the poem and maybe even put themselves in it.