Rachel Greim, Post #1: Characterization and Symbolism in My Last Duchess

Robert Browning's My Last Duchess is a poem about a duke speaking to someone about his "last duchess," who is, for unknown reasons, now out of his life.  The conversation begins when the duke shows the listener a painting of his last duchess, and he goes on to describe his relationship with her.  It is heavily implied the duke believes his wife cheated on him, but we are never given enough detail to easily discern what exactly happened.  The paradox in this piece of literature is whether the wife is dead or alive, and what happened to her.  This paradox can be solved by examining the characterization and symbolism in the poem.

http://sosaloha.blogspot.com/2011/10/aloha-to-gabrielle-kimm-and-his-last.html

In the very beginning of the poem, the duke says the artist of the painting's "hands worked busily a day."  This suggests the duke believes something sexual happened between his wife and the artist.  This immediately  demonstrates the duke's bitterness about the situation.
In line 10 of the poem, the duke tells his companion that he is the only one who draws the curtain that covers the painting.  This statement provides both characterization and symbolism.  The duke is pointing out his authority and power.  Because the duke controls the curtain that allows others to see the painting of his wife, the curtain symbolizes the duke's control, or want for control, over his wife.  As we discover later in the poem, the duke had difficulty controlling his wife, and now he is able to completely.
Immediately following this line, the duke's self-importance shines through when he says, "they would ask me, if they durst."  He holds himself high above all others, and is used to being respected and feared by those below him in class.  This personality trait suggests that the duke would not take kindly to his wife not treating him with the respect he thinks he deserves.
Throughout the next section of the poem, it becomes fairly obvious that the duke strongly suspects his wife of having at least one, but probably multiple, affairs, even though he has no proof.  For example, when again mentioning the artist, he says, "perhaps Fra Pandolf chanced to say," which shows his lack of actual knowledge about what the artist and his wife discussed or said.  He later says "I choose never to stoop."  This statement is yet another example of how highly the duke holds himself.  He does not blame himself for any tension in his relationship and does not want to receive any less than he deserves in his relationships.
In perhaps the most menacing line of the poem, the duke says, "I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together."  Once again, the duke is exercising his authority.  This statement also directly corresponds to the paradox.  Previous to this line, the duke complains that while his wife smiled at him, she also smiled the same way at everyone else.  After his commands, she no longer smiles.  This implies that the duke gave the orders to kill his wife.

http://poemshape.wordpress.com/tag/fra-pandolf-by-design/

The last few lines of the poem are about the duke's next wife.  He is preparing to discuss the dowry for the girl he wants to marry.  The duke is further characterized when he acts as though he cares about the girl, but seems to be more interested in the money she will bring him through her dowry.    As the duke and his companion leave, the duke points out a statue of Neptune taming a seahorse.  This second piece of art is another symbol of the duke's desire for control.  In this instance, the duke views himself as Neptune and the seahorse as the woman he attempts to reign in.