Descriptive Questions from My Last Duchess || Questions of 6 Marks.
Question: “That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall/Looking as if she were alive.” – Who is the speaker here? Whom does he seem to speak these lines? What idea do you form of the speaker and the painting in context of the above lines?
Ans. In Robert Browning’s poem ‘My Last Duchess’ the Duke of Ferrara is the speaker here.
The Duke seems to speak to the emissary of a Count.
Here the Duke is shown to point at a portrait of his last Duchess and the tone is that of the sincere admiration of a genuine lover of art. The picture is, no doubt, lifelike, as if the painter is able to capture the soul of the Duchess. The basic trait of the Duchess abundance of goodness and expression of joy which she showed on people indiscriminately. And this expression of joy made her cheeks flushed. Fra Pandolf thus, painted the beautiful nature of the Duchess on a canvas.
Question: What is the main message in ‘My Last Duchess’?
Ans: Through the Duke’s speech the readers come to learn about Duchess’ personality and behaviour, as well as the Duke’s own flaws (ত্রুটি) in his character. The poem is an exploration (মূল্যায়ন) of jealousy (ঈর্ষা) and possessiveness (অধিকারবোধ) within a marriage, gendered expectations (লিঙ্গ ভিত্তিক প্রত্যাশা) of women, and the women as a mere possession (সম্পত্তি).
Question: “Sir, ’twas not / Her husband’s presence only, called that spot / Of joy into the Duchess’s cheek.” – Who is the husband referred to here? Who is the wife? Explain the meaning that the speaker wants to convey to the readers. cheek.”
Ans: The ‘husband’ here is the Duke of Ferrara in Robert Browning’s poem “My Last Duchess”.
The Duchess is the last wife of the Duke of Ferrara. The Duchess is no more alive; she is only a lifelike portrait now.
The spontaneous expression of joy on the part of the Duchess was not acceptable to the Duke and in his opinion, it must have bordered on frivolity. He thought that the joys and sorrows of the Duchess must be expressed upon his command only. In fact, the jealous Duke could not stand (সহ্য করা) the fact that the Duchess would be equally responsive to everyone. He wanted the Duchess to preserve her favour and smile only for the Duke and none else.
Question: “This grew; I gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together.” – What does ‘this’ refer to here? Who gave commands and to whom? Why did all smiles stop together?
Ans: In Robert Browning’s poem ‘My Last Duchess’, ‘this’ refers to the Duchess’ habit of smiling not only at her husband but also at everybody. She went on smiling at all who passed her without making any difference of treatment.
The Duke of Ferrara gave commands perhaps to his executioner to kill thè Duchess.
The Duke being very much conscious of his aristocracy and having a prejudiced sense of conduct, did not like his wife’s attitude to life. Her habit of smiling at all alike hurt his ego and he felt that the wife had no special love or respect for him. Being extremely conscious of his own privileges, both as a ruler and as a husband, he became an autocrat. Jealousy and possessiveness overpowered him. So, he ordered to kill his wife. By the expression “all smiles stopped together” he ironically refers to the murder of his wife.