"My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning is a poem being told by a Duke who did everything he could to have control in every aspect of his life including politically and socially. He also endeavored to run his marriage the same way as he commanded his territory. The Duke considered anything he came in contact with, be it is materialistic or a human being, as a chance to increase his authority. His thought process was that a wife should be controlled; servants must recognize and obey his power; and elaborate decorations that he has in his gallery exhibited his authority to humanity. He rarely showed any form of compassion, happiness or feelings because that would have diminished his dominating reputation. Regardless of the painting he wanted us …show more content…
The Duke was an ideal symbol of jealousy. He’s didn't like the attentiveness that his wife was given by those around her or the kindness she portrayed to other people. He didn't like her to even speak to anyone for any reason. Any little gesture she may have extended to another person drove him crazy. It wasn't even where it was another man interested in her physically. He felt that she should not receive any type of attention from anyone other than him. It was so unbearable for him that killing her was his only option. It was sad that the Duke killed his wife for the mere sake she would turn red or even looks in the direction of other people regardless if the actions were innocent. She was definitely an abused woman being overly controlled by a dominating husband. Many instances in the poem revealed that the Duke regarded his wife as an ordinary thing, like a toy. He demanded her to be lovely to observe, but that was all. This was hard to come by since she was human and made mistakes. When the duke became angry with her for all her faults and especially her face which was always beaming, he "… gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together" (Browning lines