In Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess," the speaker is describing the subject of the painting to a silent listener. In 2-3 sentences, describe the speaker and the subject of the painting. Then describe the speaker's preferred qualities in a wife.

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11 August, 10:41

In Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess," the speaker is describing the subject of the painting to a silent listener. In 2-3 sentences, describe the speaker and the subject of the painting. Then describe the speaker's preferred qualities in a wife.

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Patton · Answer 1

The Speaker on the Browning's poem is a Duke, which is showing his pieces of art to the silent listener. He coldly speaks about the personality of his last Duchess, who he could have called his late wife, instead, demonstrating that for him she was simply a social object, to publicly present.

All we get to know of her comes from him, that seemed to dislike her joyful, charming personality, as it was common for her to be smiling at simple things and at every one. He was jealous, and possibly killed her or sent her away, having her smile on the painting just for his own pleasure, hidden under a curtain.

After realizing the reasons the duke had to put the last Duchess away, and the way he calls his prospect future wife "My object", he wants a wife that acts has his subordinate, and shows pleasure only when in private with him.