Strategy Response 1, Week 2

Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" exemplifies our reading this week in terms of power struggle within poetry. This poem presents a literal power struggle between the speaker and his most recent wife, who he describes as "too soon made glad, / Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er / She looked on, and her looks went everywhere." He goes on to explain that she was too kind to other men, not giving him the respect and admiration that he deserved as her husband. As the reader goes through the poem, however, he/she notices the interesting double-talk of the Duke that causes doubt in his rationale. For example, he says, "Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt, / Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without / Much the same smile?" By his own proclamation, she did give him smiles and adoration, but he perceived the same attitude toward all other people, suggesting to him that she offers the same amount of love for her husband that she does to any other single person. The reader finds it obvious again that he ranks himself above all others as he astonishedly remarks that "She thanked men - good! but thanked / Somehow - I know not how - as if she ranked / My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody's gift." Indeed, he considers simply his marrying her the greatest gift she could possibly receive and thinks all others much less, though she gave them equal thanks.

Despite his reasoning, however, the reader considers the internal suggestions of her being kind and loving toward all not as impudence or ungratefulness for the Duke but rather a natural kindess, and for that kindness the Duke disposed of her in an undisclosed (but certainly not humane) way and quickly moves on to another, more suitable bride. Therefore, the audience witnesses the power struggle between the Duke and his Duchess even just in the words of one, as he mentions his difficulty in reigning her into serving him only. Interesting that Browning is able to represent such a distinct power play in giving even only one side of the story!