My Last Duchess Narrative Essay Example

arrogance. "..

. I choose/Never to stoop...

The Duke says this rather conceited statement later on in the poem as he reveals more of himself, through the frustration in remembering his disobedient wife. Through his attempts of displaying intimidation, superiority, and innocence, the Duke unintentionally unravels his psychopathic character. He tries too hard to veil his insecurity, anxiety, and frustration, and as a result reveals it all too easily. Soliloquy in a Spanish Cloister The poem is written in the quibblings of a monk, condemning a fellow monk, Brother Lawrence.As the monk depicts his own impeccable manner, he accuses Brother Lawrence to be inferior, selfish, and immoral. On the contrary, the monk illustrates his hypocracy, as he is everything that which he claims Brother Lawrence to be.

In the first stanza the monk declares his hatred for Brother Lawrence. " My heart's abhorrence! " meaning what he hates most in his heart is Brother Lawrence. Mocking sarcasm is prevalent throughout the monk's rant as he complains about Brother Lawrence's supposed habits. [Brother Lawrence's] Wise talk of the kind of weather" The Monk tells us that Brother Lawrence's trivial conversation is tedious.

"What's the Latin name for parsley'? /What's the Greek name for 'swine's snout'? " The Monk mocks Brother Lawrence cynically. The Monk also exudes jealousy with Brother Lawrence's status, and success."And a goblet for ourself" The monk while trying to show Brother Lawrence's inferiority and stupidity, reveals his own petty mindedness. The first hint of irony arises when the monk accuses Brother Lawrence for showing an interest in the nuns. Blue-black, lustrous, thick like horsehairs, /--Can't I see his dead eye glow," On the other

hand, suspicion grows with the monk's observant description of the nun.

His lack of evidence is shown in the following statement; "(That is, if he'd let it show! )" He has no confirmation of Brother Lawrence's supposed interest, and is desperately finding reasons to prove Brother Lawrence is an immoral monk. Towards the end of his grumblings, the monk explains that he wants to get Brother Lawrence damned to hell.He recites text from Galatians, the book of damnety, which reveals the monk's own knowledge of the text and book. Similarly, the monk plans to frame and force Brother Lawrence into glancing at his "Scrofulous French novel", the key word being his scrofulous French novel, and his knowledge of the explicit content explains his corruption. The Monk is clearly delusional as he is persistent in incriminating Brother Lawrence through sins he has already overtly committed. He demonstrates a clear obsession with hell and Satan, which contradicts his strict way of life.

His hypocracy is almost comical as it actively manifests in his accusing speech. As a result the Monk's psychotic manner is blatantly expressed in his monologue. Porphyria's Lover The speaker of the poem resides in a cottage in the countryside, waiting for his lover, Porphyria, to ease his broken heart. His idolization of her, coupled with his sexual jealousy result in the dramatic death of Porphyria as she is strangled with her own hair. Her lover tells us the story, while Porphyria lay dead upon his shoulder as if she were alive.

The speaker sets the scene in an obscure way.He personifies the weather, which illustrates his initial loneliness and desperate character. "The sullen wind was

soon to wake. " The speaker also reveals that he is heartbroken; "I listened with heart fit to break.

" The setting we receive is melancholic, detached, and pending. It seems as though he is only captivated by the weather because he is waiting for something, or someone to ultimately dedicate his attention to. When Porphyria enters, the mood of the speaker changes. He describes her every move thoroughly, which shows his transfixion by her mere presence and movement.The way in which he describes her could be a foretelling to her death as he chooses to notice certain aspects about her.

"When glided in Porphyria. " This insinuates an ethereal, angelic, nature, which could be a subtle hint to the fact that Porphyria is presently dead. Moreover, he describes her shall, neck and hair in detail which could imply the manner in which she dies. However, the lover soon becomes frustrated with Porphyria. His speech becomes jealous, "vainer ties dissever" passive, greedy, and grumpy. "And give herself to me forever.

The lover, clearly wants to do something to keep her forever, he wants power and control over her. He must eliminate the obstructions between them being together. His mood changes yet again as he realizes her dedication to him. "She was come through wind and rain. " This awareness brought him satisfaction and pleasure. ""Porphyria worshiped me; surprise/Made my heart swell, and still it grew" The lover becomes indecisive has he debates what to do with Porphyria.

When the Lover comes to a decision, he is very controlled and calm. I am quite sure she felt no pain. " He finds much satisfaction in strangling her

which shows his psychotic nature. Through the murder of his lover, he has achieved control and power, and thus, a major ego boost.

Porphyria's lover, opens her eye lids with his fingers, and props her head up so she is sitting.He then kisses her with gratification which demonstrates he has necrophilia. At the end of the poem, Porphyria's lover reveals that he has told us the story, as she has already been dead next to him. "Thus we sit together now. He justifies her death by saying that god approves, for if he didn't, Porphyria's lover would have known by now.

"And yet God has not said a word! " He reasons that Porphyria wanted this to happen, she too wanted to be with him forever, and this was the only way possible. "Her darling one wish would be heard". Porphyria's lover is blatantly disturbed mentally. All three of these men share a common trait; they all present themselves as calm, controlled men, but after thorough reflection of their words, one can sense an undercurrent of psychopathic characteristics that inevitably manifests through their speech.