My Last Duchess

My Last Duchess is Robert Browning's dramatic monologue spoken by a duke showing a visitor the portrait of his deceased wife. His account of her smiles and ordinary kindnesses exposes a demand for exclusive attention and unquestioned authority. The discussion takes place amid negotiations for another marriage, linking personal possessiveness with social power and wealth. Browning gives the duke a polished voice whose apparent composure makes its implications more disturbing. The listener's silence leaves the reader to recognize what the speaker does not understand about himself, turning a description of art into a revelation of character.