At the time Browning's poem, My Last Duchess, was published, the concept of ownership in marriage was still widespread; Browning develops the central theme of his poem around these notions of inequality and male dominance in a direct attempt to explore the concept of sexism within marriage. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The poet conveys this through the use of possessive diction throughout the poem; at the beginning, the Duke mentions in parentheses that "no one sets aside the curtain that I have drawn for you, except me", symbolically indicating his control over the viewers of the painting which mimics his control over who sees it in reality. The use of possessive diction continues throughout the work, as the Duke comments on how he "gave orders" and "then all the smiles stopped". These lines evoke catharsis on the part of the audience, leading the reader to sympathize with the Duchess. The final section reveals the plan to marry the Count's "beautiful daughter" who is his "object". By objectifying the girl by reducing her worth to her physical attributes alone, the Duke reveals his superficial and patriarchal views that were common among men in Victorian society. The duke recalls the memory of his former duchess and her troublesome qualities, reproaching her for having a heart “too quickly rejoiced” and “too easily impressed”. The Duke continues to recount the flaws in the Duchess's character, saying that she values ​​"the cherry branches which some officious fool broke in the orchard for her" and her "white mule", to the same extent that she appreciates his expensive gifts. . The literary connotations of "cherries" are usually associated with forbidden sexual acts, potentially alluding to the concept that the last duchess was not faithful to her husband. This sexual reference gives rise to gender issues regarding sexuality in the Victorian region. The Duke addresses his difficulty communicating with his wife: “You even had language skills that I don’t have”; however, her use of enjambment shows the opposite, showing her inability to stop talking to the listener and the Duke's reluctance to develop communication with her. The brief use of the direct apostrophe, in reference to "Even if you had the skill of speech - (which I do not) - to make your will", illustrates the Duchess's lack of ability to respond to such accusations, which are associated with the lack of speech that the female characters express in the work, to imitate the powerless point of view on women in Victorian society. The speaker alludes to "Neptune", comparing his love to "taming a seahorse"; the obvious degradation of his previous wife through diction associated with animals, further reiterates the dominant role assumed by men in marriage. Keep in mind: this is just a sample.Get a custom paper now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayInitially, the Duke is portrayed as someone trustworthy, with good qualities high, repeatedly addressing his guest as “sir” to gain the reader’s trust. and act as a representation of the common married man in Victorian society. However, it is soon revealed that the poet employs an unreliable narrator who speaks openly of his wife's "crimes"; his belief that he committed justifiable murder due to his inappropriate behavior contrasts with morality.