Summary
“My Last Duchess” starts with the speaker, the duke, drawing the curtain to show his visitor (an emissary who has come to negotiate the duke’s marriage) a painting of his late wife, the duchess. The duke reminisces about the portrait sessions and describes the young duchess’ beauty and charming nature. However, this becomes a diatribe of her disgraceful behavior—he alleges that she flirted with everyone and was easily pleased, equating simple gifts that she received, such as a “bough of cherries” brought to her by some “officious fool” to the duke’s “gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name.” He appears jealous and possessive, and in a chilling revelation, further indicates that he is the cause of the duchess’ early death. The duke’s arrogance is evident, as he views his wife as just another possession to be controlled. The poem ends with the duke returning to the business of arranging his new marriage and the dowry, with the daughter of a man who is acclaimed for his generosity. As the duke and the emissary leave the duchess’ painting behind, the duke points out other prominent artworks in his collection.
