The biggest puzzle in Browning's poem is: Why did the Duke
have his wife murdered. He talks and talks about her and shows his visitor a portrait of
her which the Duke himself declares to be "a wonder," and yet he had her killed without
even trying to tell her what it was he objected to about her behavior or personality.
The Duke acknowledges that he lacks skill in expresssing himself. He says, "Even had you
skill in speech which I have not..." Therefore his entire explanation of what he
objected to in his wife's behavior is difficult to understand. He did not complain to
his wife about her democratic and friendly manners for several different reasons. He
couldn't express himself. He felt she might fail to understand him if he did managed to
express himself adequately. He was afraid she would argue with him, which was something
he couldn't tolerate. He was afraid she wouldn't change even if she did understand him.
And finally, he himself seems perfectly well aware that his fault-finding is unjust. She
is a better person than he is, by far, and he wants to be a better person than her or
than anybody. But there is nothing admirable about this man. He tries to be cordial, but
he is hopelessly arrogant. He thinks he is noble, but he is ignorant and vulgar, as
shown in the fact that he cannot even express his thoughts clearly. He thinks of himself
as a connoisseur of art, but all he knows is how much things cost and the impression
they make on other people. He had a beautiful young wife who was nearly perfect in every
respect, and he could not understand or appreciate her--although everybody else loved
and admired her. She was getting the attention and adulation he wanted for
himself.
What is unique about "My Last Duchess" is that it
is a long explanation which explains nothing but succeeds in exposiing the wicked,
vulgar nature of the man offering the explanation.
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