Illusions of Power in Robert Browning's 'My Last Duchess' - Behind the Curtain

Beyond the Verse

In this week’s episode of “Beyond the Verse,” the official podcast of PoemAnalysis.com and Poetry+, Maiya and Joe turn their attention to Robert Browning’s chilling dramatic monologue, ‘My Last Duchess’.

Beginning with Browning’s life and context, they trace how the poem emerged from Victorian England while also drawing on real historical figures such as Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara. The hosts unpack how Browning builds a psychological portrait of the Duke, weaving themes of control, jealousy, and social power into the tightly structured heroic couplets.

The discussion focuses on the Duke’s disturbing monologue, where subtle hints and chilling admissions suggest he may have orchestrated his wife’s death. Maiya and Joe consider the way Browning layers different kinds of power—the Duke’s social status, the Duchess’s quiet influence, and the lasting authority of the artist whose painting preserves her smile. They also explore how Browning uses art itself as a commentary on truth, perception, and legacy, comparing the Duke’s blindness to the insight offered by painting, sculpture, and poetry.

By the end, the episode situates ‘My Last Duchess’ within both its Renaissance inspiration and its modern resonances, linking Browning’s psychological study to today’s cultural fascination with true crime and the blurred line between public image and private reality.

Get exclusive Poetry PDFs on Robert Browning and his poetry, available to Poetry+ users:

• 'My Last Duchess' PDFs:
  • PDF Guide
  • Poetry Snapshot
  • Poem Printable
    • Poem Printable with Meter
    • Poem Printable with Rhyme Scheme
    • Poem Printable with Both Meter and Rhyme Scheme
• Robert Browning PDF Guide

For more insights into Robert Browning, visit PoemAnalysis.com, where you can explore a wide range of analyzed poems, with thousands of PDFs, study tools, and more.

Tune in and Discover:

• The chilling psychology of Browning’s Duke
• How heroic couplets frame control and authority
• The uneasy relationship between artists and patrons
• The enduring fascination with jealousy, power, and true crime

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