The Duke in "My Last Duchess" wants the ultimate trophy
wife, as we would think of it today. He wants a beautiful wife who will give her
attention to only him. She is to stand around like a work of art and reflect back on
the Duke, demonstrating his good taste.
The Duke's view of
women and wives is an extreme application of Victorian views of women. Society was
extremely sexist in Browning's time, seeing women as practically being owned by their
husbands. Women were not allowed to vote, and had little opportunity for social or
economic advancement, other than marrying a husband of a higher status than themselves.
Victorians, however, did not make a habit of killing wives who did not please their
husbands.
Specifically, though, concerning the character of
the Duchess, she is probably an ideal Victorian woman. She is beautiful, loyal, polite,
and attentive to her husband. She is a kind, gracious hostess and admiring of nature.
She is an ideal Victorian woman.
She just doesn't live up
to the Duke's obsessive requirements. She doesn't limit her smiles to only him; she
doesn't fawn over him because of his ancient name. She doesn't patronize him and feed
his arrogance well enough.
She is an ideal woman, but she
is not good enough for him. He is extreme, even for a
Victorian.
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