My Last Duchess (Summary)

            My Last Duchess is a very famous poem by Robert Browning. At the opening, the duke has just pulled back a curtain to reveal to the envoy a portrait of his previous duchess. He shows the painting of his last Duchess painted on the wall. He feels that the image is alive and remarks the painting as a remarkable achievement. He reveals that the artist is Fra Pandolf who spent a day completing the portrait.

            The Duke acknowledges that whenever strangers look at the painting, they want to ask how the artist was able to achieve such depth in emotion. So, he answers the messenger without a question being asked. Moreover, the Duke is the only one who can unveil the curtain of the painting and answer the questions as no one else is allowed to go near the painting.

             The Duke explains that his last Duchess expressed joy not only in the presence of her husband [the Duke], but also when others are present. It is the reason for her cheeks to express joy in the presence of Fra Pandolf.

            The Duke tries to explain the smile on the face of his wife with the use of imaginary claims. He thinks that Fra Pandolf might have said that the cloak of the Duchess covers the wrists [a way of flirting] or remarking that such beauty can never be reproduced by paints. The Duke says that such words were enough to produce a smile on her face as she believed that they were the words of courteousness.

            She was the one who would derive gladness from anything quickly. She admired everything and her sight could derive happiness from everywhere. To the Duchess, according to the Duke, his expensive gift at her breast, setting sun, cherries presented by a fool, riding on her mule, etc. were things of joy and she blushed to enjoy any of them.

            The Duke believes that she thanked many men, but in a suspicious way. He could not believe that she thinks other gifts equivalent to the proud family name given by the Duke.

            The Duke goes on to explain that three factors stood in his way for advising the Duchess – he claims his inability to deliver a good speech can change the predicament of his wife, even if he achieves it would be shameful if the wife gives out an excuse to escape and lastly He says that he will not be stooping down for anything. He admits to the visitor that his wife smiled at him as a mark of love, but he felt that the same smile was produced to anyone who passes her by. As this indiscriminate behaviour of the Duchess grew, the Duke couldn’t bear it and gave orders to silence her.

            After narrating a compelling story about the death of his wife, the Duke shows the visitor the painting by Fra Pandolf where one can find the lifelike image of her. The Duke resumes business and asks the visitor to come with him to join the others. He emphasizes that the visitor’s master – a Count, is a rich man and he expects to get a good amount as dowry. However, the Duke also states that the Count’s daughter is more important to him than dowry. On the way down, He points out another art piece – Neptune taming a sea-horse. The bronze statue was made by Claus of Innsbruck.