Revealing the Layers of the Duke’s Mind: Elements of Structure and Language in Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess”

Authors

  • Nasir Jamal Khattak Department of English & Applied Linguistics, University of Peshawar Author

Keywords:

Robert Browning , "My Last Duchess", Duke’s psyche, Dramatic Monologue, Power and Control

Abstract

This paper explores the intricate layers of the Duke's psyche in Robert Browning’s dramatic monologue "My Last Duchess" through a detailed analysis of the poem's structure and language. By examining the Duke's speech patterns, use of irony, and the controlled revelation of his thoughts, we uncover the complexities of his character and his manipulative nature. The study highlights how Browning's use of enjambment, caesura, and dramatic irony not only reflects the Duke's authoritative yet insecure personality but also engages the reader in a deeper understanding of the psychological underpinnings of the narrative. Through this analysis, the paper aims to reveal how Browning’s poetic techniques effectively convey the Duke's obsession with power and control, offering a compelling insight into the darker aspects of human nature.

Author Biography

  • Nasir Jamal Khattak, Department of English & Applied Linguistics, University of Peshawar

    Ph.D, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA (2001) in English Literature

References

Abercrombie, Lascelles. “Robert Browning.” The Great Victorians: I. Eds. H. J. Massingham and Hugh Massingham. Middlesex: Penguin Books Limited, 1938. Pp, 95-106.

Batho, Edith C. and Bonamy Dobree. “Poetry.” The Victorians and After: 1830-1914. London: The Cresset Press, 1962. Pp. 23-57.

Browning, Robert. “My Last Duchess.” The Poems and Plays of Robert Browning. New York: The Modern Library, 1934. Pp. 94-5.

Langbaum, Robert. The Dramatic Monologue: Sympathy and Judgment.” Browning: men and Women and other Poems. London: Macmillan, 1974. Pp. 124-50.

Langbaum A, Robert. “Robert Browning.” Robert Browning: A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Philip Drew. London: Methuen & Co Ltd., 1965. Pp. 131-54.

Muir, Edwin. “Robert Browning.” Robert Browning. Ed. Phillip Drew. London: Methuen & Co Ltd., 1965. Pp. 66-71.

Pearsail, Cornelia D. J. “The Dramatic Monologue.” Victorian Poetry. Ed. Joseph Bristow. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Pp. 67-88.

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Published

07/03/2023

How to Cite

Nasir Jamal Khattak. (2023). Revealing the Layers of the Duke’s Mind: Elements of Structure and Language in Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess”. University of Chitral Journal of Linguistics and Literature, 7(I), 159-163. https://jll.uoch.edu.pk/index.php/jll/article/view/300

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