Browning's Last Duchess

The antagonist of Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess” is a Duke from the sixteenth century. He begins his meeting with the servant of his next wife’s father. He asks or more directly orders the servant “Will’t please you sit and look at her?” (5) addressing a painting he had made of his last Duchess.

The Duke shows how he was not at all made happy by his young bride’s smile. He is a man who could not stand to have his wife smile upon anyone but himself.

“… Sir twas not
her husband’s presence only,
called that spot
of joy into the Duchess’ cheek”

(13-15)

This is the Duke asking the question he was puzzled by. This is obvious in that it seems nobody has ever asked him that question, though he is sure everyone would if only they dared. It is as if he was so confounded by the fact that she could possibly seek happiness in anything that wasn’t him. Tis is evidence that he...