Use of Irony, Diction, and Imagery in My Last Duchess :: Robert Browning, My Last Duchess

In his spectacular monologue, Robert brown uses irony, diction, and imagery to achieve a haunting effect.Robert Browning frequently wrote dramatic monologues to enhance the dark and avaricious qualities in his works. Brownings use of this particular style is to evoke the unconstrained reaction of a person in aparticular situation or crisis (Napierkowski 170). A poem may say one thing, but when mixed with dramatic monologue, it may present a meaning at odds with the speakers conception(Napierkowski 170). This change may show the reader more insight into the poem without directly stating the underlying facts. The reader is allowed to isolate a single moment in which the character reveals himself more starkly (Napierkowski 171). Brownings use of dramatic monologue disposes the reader to suspend moral judgement (Napierkowski 171) causing a self-complacency to hoer over many of his works.Browning uses irony in conjunction with dramatic monologue to produce a sinister and domineering ef fect. Irony, much like dramatic monologue, butt joint make the reader question the true underlying meaning of the passage. This brief confusion causes an eeriness to be brought about in the work. In My Last Duchess, oral irony is demonstrated when the Duke says to his guests, even had you skill in speech . . . which I have not(35-36).Throughout the poem the Duke proves that he is quite a attired speaker(Markley172). The Duke is not a modest man, but him making this seemingly humble statement in the midst of all his power stricken remarks establishes situational irony. prominent monologue can make an unforseen ironic statement have an ominous surrounding that totally encompasses the readers attention. An individual may initially become very sore if an unannounced late night visitor knocked on their door, just as the Dukes unanticipated remark brought a weary feeling to the reader.Throughout My Last Duchess, Browning uses diction to further increase the haunting effect of his dramatic monologue. His precise and scattered word choice is meant to make the reader recognize the underlying haughtiness in his speech to the Counts emissary. The Duke refers to his former wifes portraits depth and passion in order to place a cloudiness over the realism of the painting. This, along with the faint and half-flush manner that dies along her throat, brings about an overcast appearance to the poem. The Dukes trifling lack of countenance is evident in his jealousy ofthe Duchesss kindness toward others. Her benevolence disgusts the Duke, and causes him to stoop down to spirt off commands in her direction.