My Last Duchess Figurative Language

In Robert Downing’s poem “My Last Duchess” the author uses representational figurative language, two-toned diction, uninterrupted, repetitive structure, and imagery that tells a story of a duke and his relationship with a duchess. The poem communicates an attitude of resentment, distaste and bitterness which leads to a theme of sometimes one's own actions of holding oneself on a pedestal, can negatively effect and blur one’s opinions or views of someone else.
The authors use of figurative language sets a tone of discontentment or displeasure while also describing the subject of the piece. In the lines, “The depth and passion of its earnest glance,” (line 8) the image gives the reader a sense of what the painting symbolizes and means to the …show more content…
In the phrase, “Are you to turn and ask thus. Sir, ‘t was not her husband’s presence only, called that spot of joy into the Duchess’ cheek,” Browning uses the word spot with particular meaning. He refers to the duchess blushing in the painter, but with the diction of the word spot, it makes the color in her cheeks seem as more of an indication of betrayal. It is no longer a stunning glow of rose in her cheeks, rather evidence she isn’t personal enough, and shows admiration to everyone. The author applies an anxious or possessive sense of emotion to the following verse so as to show the duke’s conception of the duchess, “She had a heart—how shall I say?—too soon made glad, too easily impressed.” The duke uses a euphemism, in which he indirectly says she is pleased too freely. Using the words “too easily impressed” positively describes the duke’s opinion that her congeniality wasn’t segregated enough and ranges wide. Diction creates a discretely criticizing tone and attitude towards the duchess, that allows the reader to understand the duke and duchesses’ …show more content…
In the lines, “‘Her mantle laps over my lady’s wrist too much,' or ‘Paint must never hope to reproduce the faint half-flush that dies along her throat:'”, a tone of spite and disapproval is present. The reader can imagine a scene of the artistry and elegance of the duchess, while the painter compliments her grace, which signifies the idea that the duke was envious of this attention the painter receives. “She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. sir, ‘t was all one! “My favour at her breast, the dropping of the daylight in the West, the bough of cherries some officious fool broke in the orchard for her, the white mule she rode with round the terrace”, portrays that the duchess, thought of by the duke negatively, in contrast isn’t so flirtatious and in fact just enjoys the usual happiness of life; for example: she smiles at the extravagant colors of the sunset, the juicy cherries grown in a garden, and the refined horse she rode. Ironically, these images characterizing the duchess reflect upon the duke with prejudice, as it demonstrates his opinions of the duchess prove to be blown out of the water, and his expectations for her can be considered