Analysis of Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess"
             The opening lines of this poem, "That's my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive." (Browning 695) set the stage for what becomes a very mysterious and macabre poem. The poem, a dramatic dialogue based on the true-life accounts of Alfonso II, duke of Ferrara, whose first wife died in 1561 of a suspected poisoning is perhaps one of Browning's greatest works. The poem itself is somewhat difficult to comprehend without careful analyzation. For instance, are those opening lines referring to a picture of the Duchess while she was still alive or, is it something much darker like a picture painted after her death. In my opinion, Browning was quite purposeful in his writing choosing to leave this open to the imagination and wonderment of the reader. Either way, it does get across the point that the Duchess is no longer with us at the time of the writing. It becomes apparent very early in the writing that the Duke is an arrogant and controlling figure whom, if not responsible for the Duchess's death knows a great deal more than he is telling. It's as if he's playing a game of "cat and mouse" with the reader as he arrogantly details his private and personal thoughts giving just enough detail to make you wonder if perhaps he isn't the killer. Much of the genius behind this writing lies in Browning's purposeful omission of information. The poem as a whole tends to bring the reader to the edge of information then pull back leaving the reader feeling somewhat slighted of the rest of the story. This serves only to enhance the mystery and fuels ill sentiments toward the Duke. That is very useful in a poem where Browning seems to want the Duke to come across as a overbearing and ill willed. The poem further highlights his overbearing attitude and arrogance in the following lines of poetry. &q...