My Last Duchess

Poetry | Robert Browning
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Notice Neptune, though, Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,

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Explain with reference to the context: “Notice Neptune, though, / Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, / Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!” 

These lines are from the famous dramatic monologue “My Last Duchess,” written in 1842 by Robert Browning (1812-1889). The Duke of Ferrara says these words at the end of the poem while talking to a man who has come to arrange the Duke’s next marriage. These lines help us understand the Duke’s character more clearly.

At the beginning, the Duke shows a painting of his last Duchess (dead wife) to the visitor. His words reveal that he is a proud, arrogant, jealous, and controlling man. He wanted his wife to smile only for him. He did not like her innocent happiness. So, he gave commands to kill her. At the end, the Duke points to a statue of Neptune, the sea god. Neptune is taming a sea-horse. The Duke

says this bronze statue was specially made for him by Claus of Innsbruck, a famous sculptor. He calls it a “rarity,” which means a very special and expensive piece.

So, these lines show the Duke’s pride, love of power, and need for control. Neptune is a powerful god, and the sea-horse is a small, weak animal. The statue shows Neptune forcing the sea-horse to obey him. This is just ike the Duke wanted to control his last Duchess. So, the statue is a symbol of the Duke himself. He compares himself to a god who controls others.

By mentioning the artist’s name and his demand the statue was made only “for me,” he also shows his wealth, high status, and pride in art as his property.

So, in these lines, the Duke reveals that he sees art, women, and people as objects to own and control. To the wealthy, powerful people like the Duke, a beautiful piece of artwork can only be an object to show domination.

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Robert Browning
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from My Last Duchess