How does this poem represent social commentary?
By: Aysha Chaudhry
Poetry has been an art form used to express one’s feelings and thoughts since the beginning of time. It has existed even before the written structure. Many poems contain a deeper meaning behind the text. In Robert Browning’s My Last Duchess, there are several examples of society and its operation during the Victorian age. Browning’s literary work exemplifies men as superior beings, women as objects (no freedom/say), and the importance of social class. As a result, the written composition, My Last Duchess, displays social commentary by articulating specific aspects of society during the Victorian era.
Throughout history men have been viewed as greater beings. Accordingly, this common misconception prevailed during the Victorian age as well. Browning does an exceptional job portraying the Duke’s maniacal personality and ludicrous belief of his superiority; enriching the text with these very concepts. While explaining to his future father-in-law the story of his last Duchess, the Duke expresses that even if he were to point out her flaws to her, he would be “stooping” down to her level, which he believes himself to be above. In addition he claims, “I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together”. In other words he ordered one of his underlings to rid him of her; once again articulating that his Duchess was beneath him. Furthermore, the details of the Duke’s dialogue within this piece represent the recurring theme of a man’s superiority.
In the past women have been viewed as beings inferior to men. Unfortunately there are various countries where this mistaken belief still exists. In My Last Duchess there are quite a few examples of how women were seen as a secondary existence and didn’t have much say in society. Browning characterizes the Duke’s Duchess of having a very lively personality. She was full of joy and this aggravated the Duke, causing him to believe that, she had a heart “too soon made glad, too easily impressed; she liked whate’er she looked on, and her looks went everywhere”. The Duke of course assumes his accusation of her promiscuity is correct, never allowing his wife the opportunity to voice the truth of the situation; hence, proving that women had no say during this period in history.
The social class system used to be one of the greatest tools for identifying and defining the human race. During the Victorian era there were several men and women belonging to the royal family. It was of extreme importance that one knew his or her place in society and acknowledged their status, allowing individuals to be treated accordingly. Brown first provides the reader with a glimpse of the vitality of social class when the Duke so calmly condemns the Duchess of viewing and treating his “gift of nine-hundred-years-old name with anybody’s gift”. Essentially stating that she committed a blasphemy by behaving the same towards him as with other men. The Duke then continues to accuse his dead Duchess. When speaking to his future father-in-law, he proclaims, “she smiled, no doubt, whene’er I passed her; but who passed without much the same smile”. In other words he meant that he should have been treated in a special manner due to his belonging to the royal family. As a result, Browning portrayed the idea of social class, during the Victorian era, by accusing the Duchess of treating the Duke as an ordinary person, disregarding his family status.
Overall, when composing this piece, Browning did a magnificent job embedding it with traces of the function of society. He used the superiority of men, the mistreatment of women, and social class. In conclusion, Browning exemplified specific elements of society during the Victorian age to display social commentary.
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