Notesale: Turn your study into money

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My last duchess
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Context: Robert Browning was fascinated
by the Italian Renaissance and the new-age ideas
surrounding fashion and art which were being
introduced in Italy (where he lived for a long time)
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“Will’t please you sit and look at her?” this statement is very polite, however also creates a
sinister and slightly forceful tone
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This also shows how the Duke sees
this painting as a symbol of his power and majesty
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This may suggest her value
and status, as the Duke collected expensive artwork, however also gives the
sense that the Duke is a deeply unpleasant and unforgiving man
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And her looks went everywhere” - this phrase
implies that the Duchess, unlike her husband, did not require luxuries or
expensive gifts to make her happy
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She seems
unappreciative of his “gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name” and perhaps
isn’t as proud of his family’s heritage and class as her husband is
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This is reflected in the
repetition of “stooping” which may suggest that the Duke thought he was
superior and above his lowly wife
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The phrase “and her looks went everywhere” appears to
imply that the Duchess was flirtatious (or at least she was in the eyes of her
husband, who appears to disparage any sort of relationships that she formed
with anyone)
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This portrays him as a needy and attention seeking man who required
unachievable high standards from his wife (who didn’t care how other people
saw her, unlike the Duke)
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However, this long and unyielding rant reinforces the power that the Duke
holds due to his high status and wealth and how perhaps other people were
slightly scared of him (due to his merciless ability to seemingly have his own
wife murdered, I assume)
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Apparently innocent or ambiguous statements, such as “I
gave commands” are interpreted in different ways by different people
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Exam question
Q) Explore how the theme of the abuse of power is portrayed in “My Last
Duchess” and in one other poem from the anthology

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