"My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning (read by Tom O'Bedlam)
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- čas přidán 3. 12. 2009
- "Self-aggrandizing Duke murders or exiles insufficiently appreciative wife" That's the plot. The quotation comes from this analysis which is as good as any I can find on the web.
poemshape.wordpress.com/2011/0...
When Robert Browning was asked what the Duke meant by "I gave commands then all smiles stopped together" he replied, ""I meant that the commands were that she should be put to death . . . or he might have had her shut up in a convent.".
It is important to realise how times have changed. The Duke could do whatever he chose to do. There's a scene-closing couplet from "'Tis pity She's a Whore" by John Ford: "Great men may do their wills and we must obey. But God will judge them for it another day". (I may not have that exactly right - I'm quoting from memory)
Fra Pandolf was the portrait painter but all persons, including Claus of Innsbruck, are fictitious.
"Written in 1841, My Last Duchess is the dramatic monologue of the duke of Ferrara who is negotiating his second marriage through an agent of the count of Tyrol on the grand staircase of the ducal palace at Ferrara in northern Italy. Executing the elements of a dramatic monologue, the duke reveals his situation and much more than he intends to the both the agent and the reader. "
Read the rest here:
barney.gonzaga.edu/~jdavis6/po...
I found an excellent reading by Alfred Molina (Doc Ock in Spiderman) here:
www.poetryfoundation.org/journ...
That's my last duchess painted on the wall,
Looking as if she were alive. I call
That piece a wonder, now: Frà Pandolf's hands
Worked busily a day, and there she stands.
Will't please you sit and look at her? I said
"Frà Pandolf" by design, for never read
Strangers like you that pictured countenance,
The depth and passion of its earnest glance,
But to myself they turned (since none puts by
The curtain I have drawn for you, but I)
And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst,
How such a glance came there; so, not the first
Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not
Her husband's presence only, called that spot
Of joy into the Duchess' cheek: perhaps
Frà Pandolf chanced to say "Her mantle laps
"Over my lady's wrist too much," or "Paint
"Must never hope to reproduce the faint
"Half-flush that dies along her throat": such stuff
Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough
For calling up that spot of joy. She had
A heart how shall I say? too soon made glad,
Too easily impressed; she liked whate'er
She looked on, and her looks went everywhere.
Sir, 'twas all one! My favor at her breast,
The dropping of the daylight in the West,
The bough of cherries some officious fool
Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule
She rode with round the terrace all and each
Would draw from her alike the approving speech,
Or blush, at least. 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. Who'd stoop to blame
This sort of trifling? Even had you skill
In speech which I have not to make your will
Quite clear to such an one, and say, "Just this
"Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss,
"Or there exceed the mark" and if she let
Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set
Her wits to yours, forsooth, and make excuse,
E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose
Never to stoop. Oh sir, she smiled, no doubt,
Whene'er I passed her; but who passed without
Much the same smile? This grew; I gave commands;
Then all smiles stopped together. There she stands
As if alive. Will't please you rise? We'll meet
The company below, then. I repeat,
The Count your master's known munificence
Is ample warrant that no just pretense
Of mine for dowry will be disallowed;
Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed
At starting, is my object. Nay we'll go
Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,
Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,
Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! - Zábava
Hello Tom O'Bedlam. I thank you for mentioning my post on "The Last Duchess". I hadn't heard of you until readers found me through your readings. For that I'm grateful, both for your mention and especially that I've discovered your readings. I was so impressed that you got me writing poetry again. I wrote "Skeletons", at Poemshape, for you and with you in mind. I hope you'll take a look. I have to say, Tom, I feel a bit like a composer who's found a virtuoso, and for an instrument he especially likes. I could write a hundred poems for you.
He's explaining what happened to his last Duchess, who is dead, to a representative of the Count. He is asking for the Count's daughter as his next wife, together with a dowry of a substantial sum of money. Obviously, he's doing his best to sound gracious and plausible but his evil nature is showing through....
I had hoped that was more apparent in the reading.
I find it rather disappointed that I'm the first comment in a 5 year time span... the speaker did an excellent job, and is rather natural at reading it.
This deserves more views.
I am not a poetry person so taking a Poetry class is definitely a struggle for me. I was having a hard time with the poem but listening to this reading it helped me immensely!! Thank you.
One of my favorites. I think because when my English teacher read it to us in high school, I was the only person in the class to immediately understand that the speaker in the poem was an arrogant, jealous and insecure man who probably murdered the woman in the portrait.
This has always been one of my favorite poems, and it was read beautifully. Thank you.
I was just thinking yesterday when you'd get around to this one. Great reading, thank you.
I understand well the seeking of that elusive "ideal" we carry within as we search for just the right way to express, convey, or illuminate for others what we see or hear in our mind's eye. Frustratingly fleetingly elusive at times... and yet, at others, so simple & clear... and... I would not change one step of this dance. There is beauty in the binding and unbinding of my mind. Thank you for your graciousness & your response. Blessings ~ Laurie
The threatening evil seeping through is chilling..
One of my favourite dramatic monologues. :)
Great reading.
Outstanding. A lot of info too. Thank you!
I love this poem.
Beautiful
this is amazing thanks >> need it in my poetry exam the info so helpful >>
My FAVORITE poen,
lovely terrific
FYI the American poet Richard Howard wrote a tribute to Browning, "Nikolaus Mardruz to his Master Ferdinand, Count of Tyrol, 1565" in the form of a letter from Browning's presumed listener. IMHO it is marvelous! Witty & wry, very worth the read. AND, umm... eehm, it would be fantastic to hear the "spoken verse" as well. Alas, I couldn't access the author's rendition at Poets(dot)org where you can find the text.
great reading. The Laboratory is also quite frightening