The Last Duchess

My Last Duchess was first published in the volume of poems called, Dramatic Lyrics, in 1842. It was republished in the Dramatic Romances of 1863. It is a dramatic monologue and Phelps regards it as one of the finest dramatic monologues, not only of Browning, but in the whole range of English literature. The speaker is the Duke of Ferrara, an important city of Italy. It was an important cultural centre during the Renaissance. Whether the character of the Duke in the Monologue is based on some actual historical figure or not, there can be no denying the fact that in the Monologue, the poet has captured the very spirit of Renaissance Italy, its intrigues, its sensuality, its greed, as well as its cultural and artistic activity.

 As a Dramatic Monologue: The Critical Situation

 Browning's monologues grow out of some 'crisis' or 'critical situation' in the life of the principal figure, and embody the reaction of that figure to the particular situation. Placed in such a situation, the chief figure, the speaker of the monologue, indulges in self-analysis and self-introspection and in this way his soul is laid bare in the poem. In his monologues, generally, the speaker refers to other character or characters, and in this way reveals not only his character but that of others also. The presence of some listener or interlocutor is also implied. Thus the present monologue is a remarkable piece of character-study not only of the Duke but also of his last Duchess, and the messenger of the neighbouring Count forms the listener and the interlocutor.