Duchess Explication

            The poem, “My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning is a revelation describing the life of a wealthy, slightly disturbed egomaniac. The poem is very much a monologue, almost a boast. The way he describes the subject, a former companion he had executed, is very casual. This relaxed manner is very telling of how far above others the Duke considers himself and his lineage.

My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name

With anybody's gift…

The very evenness of the poem’s line length is deceptive. Equal numbers is usually a sign of balance, but in this case it is symbol of a sociopathic mind. A sociopath is one whose conscious is impaired. The Duke sees no wrong in having a living person sentenced to death for no reason but being too joyful and not only worshipping her husband.

There is only one stanza; it contains the beginning, middle, and end of the poem. Perhaps the Duke presents it this way to show how omnipotent he believes himself. There is no doubt, worry or indecision in the poem. A solid body of words is both intimidating and assuring. It might dwarf those uneducated below him, but it presents at least an image of solidity and confidence. Most look to people who are confident in their own abilities and the Duke fits the mentally ill bill.