The Duke's Discernment with the Duchess

3. In the poem “The Last Duchess” the Duke, who is the speaker, is portrayed as a haughty and emotionally cold aristocrat who is an art connoisseur. It is apparent that his duchess is no longer present in his life and that he thinks poorly of her. During the poem he narrates about an incident that causes him to dislike the Duchess. He states that “…she ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift” (Line 33, Browning); this quote shows that the Duke has discernment for how the Duchess reacts to others with gratuity. He continues on to describe how she would smile at everyone and that he did not feel any greatness or specialness when she smiled at him in the same manner. This jealousy felt by the Duke shows that he felt undervalued by the duchess because of her everlasting and omnipresent smile and kindness to all. These particular actions done by the Duchess have caused this response in the Duke and cause him to have her painted in the manner which she acted.
- Shannon V. Robinson