Analyzing How Robert Browning Uses Dramatic Monologue to...

Analyzing How Robert Browning Uses Dramatic Monologue to Portray Madness in His Poems My Last Duchess and Porphyrias Lover A dramatic monologue is when a character in a piece of writing speaks their thoughts and feelings out loud. It is used because it gives an insight into the persons mind. Browning chose this form for the two poems because it makes the poem feel more realistic and you know everything the character is feeling it also subconsciously makes the reader feel certain emotions towards particular characters. The poems reflect the Victorian mind by talking about madness. During the Victorian era madness was considered taboo- respectable people did not speak of it whether in public or in†¦show more content†¦The Duchess is very friendly with everyone, whether they are equal or below her status, the Duke eventually gets too jealous and suspicious of the Duchess, and has her murdered. The Duke then tells an emissary of the Count, whos daughter he would like as his next wife. In the poem features of speech are used to betray the Dukes state of mind. A heart -- how shall I say?-- too soon made glad, Somehow-- I know not how-- as if she rankedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ The hyphens show the Dukes pauses in his speech, this indicates that the Duke is nervous. Other poetic techniques such as rhyming couplets are used. Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall, Looking as if she were alive. I call That piece a wonder, now: Fra Pandolfs hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. This is an example of rhyming couplets, using this technique makes the poem have a constant rhythm and it therefore flows better, or it would if enjambment wasnt used as it is here. Enjambment is where instead of pausing at the end of a line you pause at the end of the sentence so the poem makes sense. This also makes the poem feel more like a story or a monologue than a poem, this is the reason Browning uses it; it is the style that he is trying to achieve. The rhyme scheme is different to that of My Last Duchess, instead of