My Last Duchess - Book Report/Review Example

Women who are the wives of powerful men are expected to enhance their husbands. They are not supposed to find joy or amusement in anything other than that which their husband does and they are aware that they are a direct reflection of the man they are married to. In My Last Duchess, it is clear that the Duke is appalled that the deceased duchess did not hold her name and position in society to its' proper level. Indeed, as far as the Duke is concerned, it is his name and position that should have been paramount to everything -- his "gift of a nine-hundred-years- old name.". The Duke is angry that she found joy in society other than his, and that she blushed in the company of others.

Simply stated, the duke believes that his former wife failed completely to understand and fulfill her position and he is foreshadowing the fate of the new duchess should she fail as well "I command the smiles stop." This statement confirms that the Duke is a narcissistic misogynist. Finally, as the monologue continues, one realizes with bone-chilling certainty that he was, in fact, the reason for her death. "Much the same smile This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together - There she stands As if alive.". It is clear that the Duke had a strong hand in the death of the Duchess but what is so tragic is that she is dead because she was merely a sweet compassionate human.

She paid with her life for simply being human and acting like a woman instead of the ice duchess that the Duke had envisioned.