How does Browning tell the story in My Last Duchess?

 'My Last Duchess' tells the story of a proud, possessive and selfish Duke Ferrara who out of jealousy and insecurity kills his "last" wife. This is told through a dramatic monologue of his voice. The Duke begins to case build in order to receive a new wife and innocence.

 Browning sets the dramatic monologue in Renaissance Italy, this is known through the subtitle "Ferrara". The specific time period of the monologue is not mentioned, however the name of the painter " Fra Pandolf" hints towards the period that it is set in. The period is renowned for great artwork and the production of artistic talents. But also for violence and murder which these ideas create the heart of the story which is told. The setting for the monologue is an upper chamber in the ducal palace, away form the 'company below'. By browning doing this it characterises the narrator to be more intimidating. One of Browning's key aspects of narrative is to amplify the Duke's power, he does this by the setting he has used.

 Even before the dramatic monologue has begun the title characterises the Duke as possessive by referring to his last wife as "My Last Duchess". This begins to build the characters personality as neurotic and obsessive which is then further developed by explaining to the envoy that she is "painted on the wall" of the palace in order for him to be able to own her forever. As the monologue continues we begin to figure that his control isn't what he figures it is, for he has to keep his painting behind a "curtain" so she can not "look" at people coming to visit. This drives the Duke insane as he obsesses about his wealth, this links into the period in which the monologue is set of the renounce of artistic and wealthy painters. He can not show off his wealth as she is "looking as if she were alive". This line can be interpreted to suggest that his former wife was seen to be flirtatious. Therefore this resulted in him having to keep her locked away.

 The rhythm of the dramatic monologue uses an iambic pentameter which mimics the Duke's heart beat as he becomes more infuriated of the Duchess' apparent flaws, however this meter is not present throughout the whole of the monologue, this shows the Dukes inability to control everything in his life even though he desires to. The rhythm of the monologue uses the form of AABB rhyming couplets. The organisation of this shows the Duke's desire for control. "How such a glance came there;so, not the first Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, 'twas not" The stops and pauses in the narrators speech indicates trying to get back into control of his anger

Narrative Codes

Enigma- A question which must be resolved.

Symbolic- Signs or signals which represent a larger idea.

Action-An event/action which dictates a set/known response.

Cultural-Signs or symbols unique to a specific culture.

Semantic- What something is- connotation\denotation.