My Last Duchess is one of the more recognized poems written by Robert Browning. Robert Browning was a Victorian writer born in 1812 and died in 1889. He is remembered today through the inspiring words of this dramatic monologue My Last Duchess.
The setting of this poem is presumably in the Italian Renaissance period, specifically, the grand staircase in the palace of the Duke of Ferrara. It is set as evidenced by the arranged marriage to the Count's Daughter and the suggestion of the dowry and also by the remark the duke makes to the servant "Sir! Notice Neptune, though, / Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, / Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me." (Lines 54 - 56) Any reference of Ancient Roman culture, especially a bronze statue, was seen as a great status symbol at the time. …
