Object of Women in My

¶ … Object of Women in "My Last Duchess"

Robert Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess" illustrates the attitude toward women in the sixteenth century. The Duke, from an aristocratic family, expects his wife to behave a certain way and when she does not, she pays the ultimate price. Women were expected to be happy doting over their husband and their family and any other outside interests were seen as inconveniences. The fact that the Duke can do away with his last wife in such a nonchalant way demonstrates how society views women. If the husband is displeased with his wife's behavior, he can simply do away with her and have the next best thing - a portrait of her on the wall. The setting in Browning's poem demonstrates how men could control their wives, one way or another, in this backward-thinking society.

Society's attitude toward women is one that likes to keep them in check. We know that the Duke and Duchess are aristocratic and this means that each is held to a certain standard. Clearly the Duchess did not meet her husband's standards with a heart "too soon made glad, / Too easily impressed" (Browning 22-3). Here, we see that she was indiscreet and "trifling" (35), according to her husband's standards. The Duchess was expected to adhere to an attitude of worship toward her husband but her attention was easily taken to other places and "she liked whate'er / She looked on, and her looks went everywhere" (22-4). In short, the Duke could not control his wife and a Duchess could be perceived as a woman with her own mind, especially if her will went against her husband's will. She did not respect his name and considered it nothing more than "anybody's gift" (34), a crime the Duke could not bear. This woman was beyond help in that she refused to bend to his and society's norms.

We also understand how women were looked upon as second-class citizens by how the Duke refers to his wife as mine. The Duke is an arrogant man revealed when he states, "I call that piece a wonder, now (3) emphasizing now, insinuating that the only way he could be happy with her is in this lifeless state. Now her depth and passion are controlled in an environment where the Duke cannot be embarrassed. Her excuses need not worry him anymore and her unwillingness to bend to his rule need not be an issue. The fact that this conversation can be had, with another man undoubtedly, illustrates how women were perceived as nothing less than things that men could own and do with as they pleased with no regard for the woman's feelings or her life. That he was not the reason that her cheeks were glowing might have been something for him to investigate and improve their marriage; however, she was just a woman and why would he bother himself with such trifles.

In short, the duke can commit murder if he feels that his wife does live up to his expectations. Obviously, there are no ramifications for his behavior as he brags about the event and is very pleased to display the new and improved version of his wife that is under his complete control. We can see how women are also treated as objects in this poem. When the Duke could have her the way he wanted her, decided to make her into something that would entertain him. We cannot say that the Duke did not love his wife. He is like Othello in that he loved her too well but she had a mind of her own and that was something, as a Duke, he could not tolerate. With his wife safely painted on the wall, complete with a curtain to conceal her when he wished, she was now the perfect wife. She stood proud and beautiful on that wall, frozen in time, "As if alive" (47) to the Duke and that pleased him. The newest addition to his collection of objects was nothing more than just that, as the Duke leads his friend to the next object, made of bronze.