How is power and control presented in My Last Duchess?

“My Last Duchess” is all about power: the political and social power wielded by the speaker (the Duke) and his attempt to control the domestic sphere (his marriage) in the same way that he rules his lands. He rules with an iron fist.

How is power shown in Romeo and Juliet?

Power functions as a catalyst for the development of happiness and sadness, love and hatred. In Romeo and Juliet, men with important positions—such as prince or head of household—retain supreme power that triumphs over the power that love creates. Throughout the play, men prove their greater power over women.

How does the structure of My Last Duchess show power?

The poem is a dramatic monologue whose narrator shows extreme control of the conversation (the entire thing is in iambic pentameter). The rhyming couplets also express this essential control over his subjects and his story but the use of enjambment by Browning hints at deeper passions and hidden anger.

What did the commands mean in My Last Duchess?

“… I gave commands, then all smiles stopped together,” This metaphorical sentence tells us that his commands were the ones that caused her death and her ‘stop of all smiles together’.

How does Browning present ideas about control in My Last Duchess?

However, the ‘conversation’ remains a one-sided monologue whereby the Duke depicts the nature of his last duchess and her tragic fate. Here, Browning manipulates the poem’s form to demonstrate both the Duke’s power and control whilst simultaneously undermining it.

How is patriarchal power presented through the actions of the Duke in My Last Duchess?

The strong patriarchal ideas in “My Last Duchess” are a sharp contrast to the feminist theme of “A Woman to her lover. While the woman in the poem may seem to be domineering, she is seeking equality amongst men and women rather than total control and believes the power of love conquers all other forms of power.

What are the main themes of My Last Duchess?

Major Themes in “My Last Duchess”: Jealousy, hatred, and power are the major themes of this poem. Browning has presented the character of a duke who wants to rule his woman with an iron fist. He talks about his late wife and details the reasons why he did not like her.

What is the form and structure of My Last Duchess?

Form. “My Last Duchess” comprises rhyming pentameter lines. The lines do not employ end-stops; rather, they use enjambment—gthat is, sentences and other grammatical units do not necessarily conclude at the end of lines.

What is the theme of My Last Duchess?

What is the conflict presented in the poem My Last Duchess?

My Last Duchess dramatizes the internal conflict of the speaker, the Duke of Ferrara. He is conflicted with the faults of his last wife, and the desire for change in the upcoming marriage to his new fiancee. Ultimately, the struggle deals with power and jealousy.