The Last Dutchess
MY LAST DUCHESS In Browning’s “My Last Duchess” the Duke is the speaker. The Duke is showing a man through his palace because his wife has recently died and he is in hopes of marrying the man’s “fair daughter.” At the very beginning of the poem, the Duke draws attention to the painting of his “last duchess” and goes on to explain the ways of her life by testifying of her gentle spirit which was easy to please and always saw the best in everyone, but yet he interjects his opinion she was a flirt. I think this made the Duke a very jealous man. He goes on to state how he had once given her a gift and the Duchess had ranked his gift with all others.