The poem is about a dramatic monologue of fifty-six lines. The one speaking is the Duke of Ferrara, and the only silent listener is the emissary who has approached him to negotiate his second mirage with the daughter of an earl. There are some others who have accompanied the emissary. It is understood that the negotiation took place on the ground floor of the duke’s palace. To clarify his claim and give the emissary a good idea about his artistic treasures, the Duke has taken him upstairs to his art gallery.
At this exact point the poem begins: “That’s my last Duchess painted on the wall.” The abrupt opening of this dramatic monologue is traditional. Follow the tradition of keeping secret at first who the speaker is and who he is talking to. The secrets are gradually revealed in the poem. From this traditionally abrupt beginning, the poet has the advantage of creating suspense that is the essence of a dramatic beginning.
Browning not only begins the poem dramatically, but also achieves several dramatic turns in the development of the poem. The duke draws the curtains of his especially prized possession, the portrait of the first wife, and invites the envoy to sit and look at him. In the manner of a connoisseur, he invites the envoy to contemplate the beauty of the painting, especially the “serious look” and the “point of joy”. It focuses on Fra Pandolf’s ability to paint an exquisite facial expression. At this point there is a dramatic change. An overwhelming annoyance working within his mind leads him to create a very different image of the royal lady in the beautiful portrait. He suggests that he suffered from the duchess’s neglect of his social dignity. He says it’s beyond his ability to explain her character type. He had a habit of smiling.
The chill is inherent in the structure of the poem. As the irony is unraveled, the Duke and Duchess seem the complete opposite of what the Duke poses to reveal about him and his last wife.
The poem is written in heroic verses. In other words, each line is a pentameter line and each pair of these lines rhyme together. The poem is rich in variety of tones. At first, the poet maintains a calm and accommodating tone. Then it changes to an annoyed tone. Finally, the tone turns confidently cruel.
