Richard Cory And The Last Duchess

Formal Critical study of My last Duchess and Richard Cory Despite the diaphanous dissimilarities in the setting and circumstances, the two poems, My last Duchess, by Robert Browning, and Richard Cory, by Edwin Arlington Robinson, are similar in that both works strain on a mans rank in society. Showing the impact riches and power have on the life of a soul and e rattling hotshot around them.

        My last Duchess begins in a second story villa, housing a dukes art gallery in Ferrara Italy. The speaker of the poem is an Italian duke who ordered the murder of his married woman and wishes to marry the counts daughter. The counts envoy has been sent to speak with the duke. Upon scope a painting by Fra Pandolf, the duke begins to tell the envoy nearly the young lady in the painting. Thats my last Duchess multi-colored on the wall, Looking as though she were alive. (751) Browning lets the subscriber know that the duke only shows the portrait of his late wife to some the great unwashed. In doing so, the duke is able to show off his wealth. since none puts by the curtain I have drawn for you (752) This line indicates the duke doesnt draw the curtain for just anyone, and the envoy should feel recognise for the portrait rear only be seen under the dukes complete mastery. The duke believes he should be center of attention and shown the up most respect while in his home. The duke couldnt uprise the position that the duchess treated everyone and every gift she received with catch value, as if she ranked my gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybodys gift. (752) The duke thought of the duchess as a possession and          he could neer treat her as his equal. Een then would be stooping; and I choose neer to stoop. (752) Since the duchess failed at pleasing her duke, her portrait hangs behind a          curtain and the duke has complete control oer it, just as he thought he should have had over his wife while she was alive.

There is an open connection between the dukes art order of battle and his wife in this poem. For one, the portrait that the duke and the envoy are looking at is one of great beauty, done by a renowned artist. He lambastes at great length closely the physical beauty of the duchess, and when he describes her personality, he has very little kind words. This shows that all he ever precious from his wife was to be beautiful and live her life as any noble woman should. She was not the kind of person to do so, however, so he immortalized her beauty so that later she was gone he could still posses the only aspect of his wife that he had every truly cared about. The most significant mannequin of a connection between the duchess and the dukes art collection is at the end of the poem when he tells his guest to eyeshade Neptune, though, Taming a sea - horse, thought a rarity, Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! (753) This represents the relationship between the duke and his duchess in that he believes himself to be like a god and his wife a detailed helpless creature over which he has unquestionable power. The fact that the statue is cast in bronze is a symbol of the dukes mentality that he is strong and immortal. Basically, the duke regards to display his power in general, as well as the control he had over his wife.

Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson is a prime example of the popular vocalize misery loves company. Richard Cory conveys the fact that riches and glittering things cant bring glory and happiness into his life.



Richard Cory would often walk the streets down town, always keeping to himself, however when he did talk to people he was a very polite and caring man. And he was always quietly arrayed, And he was always valet de chambre when he talked. (886) He was a very rich and familiar man. Having an education finer than most. And he was rich- yes, yes richer than a king- And admirably schooled in every grace. (886) Everyone around town admired Richard Cory, and wished to have the opportunity and knowledge he had. In fine we thought that he was everything, To make us wish that we were in his place. (886) Knowing they could never compare to Richard Cory, the towns people kept working and continued their daily lives. So on we worked, and waited for the light, And went with out the tenderness and cursed the bread. (886) While on one summertimes night, Richard Cory went home and unexpectedly shot himself in the head to disengage his misery from the world surrounding him. And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head. (886) Richard Cory was a very rich man, and to the surprise of the towns people he did not flaunt his money to impress nor did he act stuck up towards others, rather, he dressed and acted as a normal citizen. The Poem was dramatic in the sense that Richard Cory had something missing in his life, leaving it nothing but miserable for him, soon enough showing no one his pain leaving a false image of his true identity. Edwin Robinson wrote the poem to demonstrate that one might think someone is happy because they look happy, but the true question is, are they really happy?         [1,008]

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