(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Duke or Devil

            Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue by the Duke of Ferrara. Through his monologue, the duke recalls the failings of his last wife to an agent of the Count of Tyrol in order to negotiate his second marriage. The duke's tale ultimately conveys to the reader that he is by nature a controlling, manipulative, and insecure person that murders his wife through no real faults of her own. The duke is the embodiment of pride and materialism leading the greatest sin of murder.
             The story begins in a private gallery within the duke's estate. The initial focus was on a painting of the duke's last Duchess. The duke begins to describe the appearance of his last Duchess, and notes that only he controls her countenance behind the curtain that covers her portrait "since none puts by the curtains I have drawn for you, but I" (lines 9-10). As the poem develops, the duke explains that his last duchess was too easily impressed with the slightest things: "A heart--how shall I say?--too soon made glad" (line 22). The duke tries to convey to the reader that his last wife did not act in a manner befitting the duchess of Ferrara. The duke wanted his wife to reserve her joy for only himself.
             At this point, the duke tells his listeners that he could have told his wife of her improper behavior, but his prideful arrogance would never allow him to lower himself in order to reprimand his wife: "I choose never to stoop" (lines 42-43). He continues by saying that he received the same smile from his wife as any other things that brought her joy. His nine hundred year old name means as much as any other gifts. It seems that as the duke justifies his pretenses, the listener and reader become more unsympathetic with the views of the duke. The duke can no longer bear the frivolous joys of his wife and ordered her to be murdered: "I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together" (lines 45-46).


Essays Related to Duke or Devil

1. Leadership and Duke University Basketball

Coach Mike Krzyzewski (also known as Coach K), coach of the Duke University Blue Devils is now the winningest and most respected coach of all time. ... Coach Krzyzewski was asked to be Duke's head coach in the spring of 1980 (www.coachk.com, 2014). ... Marked in the Hall of Fame as far as coaches, Coach K has been the head coach for Duke University for 34 years. ... This Duke basketball organization is ran off of systematic rewards. ... These Duke Blue Devils share open communication and this allows leaders to share all types of information throughout the organization and across all leve...

  • Word Count: 1277
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Great Gatsbey Discriptive

Duke Montgomery, a tall, staunch royal who loves to show off his army to many unwilling guests. ... As the enemy army advances time is running short, the final preparations are made, and the newly created army of Duke Montgomery is ready for battle. ... With an evil smile on his face like the devil himself Montgomery again raised his contorted, iron fist and signals his own horseman of the apocalypse to charge, bringing doom and despair to all who stand in their way. ...

  • Word Count: 390
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Prospero and sycorax:compare.

Caliban was born from Sycorax's union with the Devil. This is a clear indicator that her magic is not used for good purposes; it is black magic, which is used for invoking the Devil. ... Her union with the Devil further illustrates her perverse use of magic, for she would have had to invoke him in order to have carnal relations. ... Whilst Prospero was the Duke of Milan, it his practicing of magic made him blind to his responsibilities. ... In neglecting his duties as Duke, Antonio has the perfect reason to proclaim himself Duke and Exile Prospero " Prospero the prime duke, being so reput...

  • Word Count: 1143
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

4. The Canterbury Tales

The Knight's story is about two friends, Palamon and Arcita, who are captured in battle by a duke named Theseus. They go through many hardships in prison together for a while, until they notice the duke's daughter Emely. ... Duke Pirithous, a friend of both Duke Theseus and Arcite, visits Athens. He pleads on Arcite's behalf and Duke Theseus agrees to release him, but he will be banished from the Dukedom, and be beheaded if he returns. ... The church's position on marriage was, therefore, that women should be kept under strict control to avoid temptation from the devil. ...

  • Word Count: 1605
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Shylock: The Infinite Contradiction

Shylock endures many anti-Semitic comments and the majority of Venetian Christians refer to call him a vicious assortment of names like "the Devil."" Throughout the entirety of the play, he is referred to by name only three times; in the trial scene, the Duke calls him by name twice, and by Portia, once. ... In Act II, scene ii, Launcelot Gobbo identifies Shylock as "a kind of devil,"" "the devil himself,"" and "the very devil incarnation."" ... Solanio identifies Shylock as "the devil in the likeness of a Jew (Act III, scene i), and Bassanio echoes this sentiment by identifying Shylock as a "...

  • Word Count: 1557
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Sisters

They were matched against their rivals, the Duke University Blue Devils. Duke was one of the worst teams in the nation and had been for several years. ... Both teams; however, not just Duke, had failed to win a conference game thus far in the football year. ... The Duke team had already entered the field of play and it was time for the Tarheels to run out onto the field, signaling that the game was about ready to get underway. ...

  • Word Count: 738
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

7. NCAA Tourmament

Only the two other teams including Duke and Michigan State can say the same. ... Teams such as Duke or Michigan State are typically known as "Powerhouse" teams. ... Shane Battier of the Duke blue devils discussing the tournament claimed, "We"ll never wave the white flag We have too much pride. ... Battier was also described as a "veteran" of the Duke blue devils. ... First, Duke was referred to as an "enemy" of there opponent Arizona. ...

  • Word Count: 2201
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Othello

It is a shame that Othello so blindly killed her without investigating the situation first. ) Act IV, Scene 1: Othello accuses Desdemona of lying O, devil, devil! ... He first goes to the Duke and states that Othello, a moor, has married his daughter and hopes the Duke will breaks the marriage. 1) Act I, Scene 1: Iago informs Brabantio that Othello and Desdemona have eloped "I am one, sir, who comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are making the beast with two backs."" (Lines 128-131) Instead, the Duke is impressed with Othello and sees that he is a prominent man and is...

  • Word Count: 885
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Issues of Race in Othello

Iago describes the consequences of these acts with phrases like, "you'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse"" (line 122) and even, "or else the devil will make Grandsire of you"" (line 97). These descriptions make it seem like Othello and Desdemona's relationship is extremely immoral, even saying that their children would be equivalent to devil's spawn. This sentiment is even further underscored by Barbanzio's reaction, when he appeals to the Duke he accuses Othello of some sort of dark magic and says his daughter is bound "in the chains of magic"" (Act I, scen...

  • Word Count: 1462
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question