Literary elements in Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess"

Robert Browning's work with "My Last Duchess" gives great examples of how a writer can use elements such as point of view and characterization to create and resolve complex paradoxes such as love and hate within a relatively short and literally concise work. Within the vain and seemingly ruthless monologue of the Duke Ferrera the poem establishes a singular biased point of view. Not much farther into reading when Ferrera is sufficiently characterized through his tone among other elements, it can be seen that an underlying paradox of love and hate is established.
Browning uses the singular point of view from a duke who has recently been widowed by his last duchess. This standpoint allows browning to portray a man who is on one hand a bereaved husband but on the other uses connotation in characterization to portray a more sinister man. The works point of view creates a peculiar bout of irony as the duke delves further into the late duchess's transgressions he betrays his own interests of negotiating for his next wife with the connotation of a rather ruthless exile of his last. This starts the paradox in which the institution of marriage which is intended to house a loving union has been sullen with a jealous and hateful relationship instead.
The characterization in "My Last Duchess" is a powerful element in the paradox. As the duke spends much of his time characterizing himself ironically through characterizing his former wife he delves deeply into his irate disgust of the former duchess. The excerpt "but thanked Somehow — I know not how — as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybody's gift." is so powerful in his speech that it sums up a large portion of his narcissistic nature. From this conceited and irate point of view somewhat ambiguous lines such as " I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together." become abundantly clear.
As the work begins to wind down and the paradox of love and hate seems to be resolved through the vengeful demise of the last duchess Browning uses a bit of symbolism "Nay, we'll go Together down, sir. Notice Neptune, though,Taming a sea-horse" and put to rest any doubts. Though again there is a bout of ambiguity in connotation, as Neptune has been known to represent control as pertaining to Ferrera's control of an uncontrollable entity. However Neptune is also known to be a symbol of delusion, illusion and his trident the trinity of past present and future for an overtone of universality. This leaves an impression of continual tumultuous delusion for Ferrera's quest in ultimately conquering an entity that cannot be reigned.