My Last Duchess - Robert Browning

 

My Last Duchess    - Robert Browning

‘My Last Duchess’ is written by Robert Browning. He is a Victorian poet. He wrote the poem in 1842. It is written in the form of dramatic monologue. The poem depicts the condition of women in the Victorian age. Wives were expected to meekly submit to their husbands, however brutish they might be. In this poem, Ferrara is such a brutal husband, who murdered his wife mercilessly for her indiscriminate smile.

The Duke of Ferrara is the speaker of the poem. He addresses the ambassador whose master’s daughter he is planning to marry. He informs the ambassador that he murdered his wife because she was flirtatious. The ambassador remains a passive listener. He knows that it is dangerous to oppose Ferrara.  Ferrara shows the ambassador the picture of his wife’s face. It is painted on the wall by the famous painter Fra’Pandolf. To draw the Duchess’s facial expressions, Fra’Pandolf spent a whole day. The Duchess in the picture is glancing. There is a touch of joy on her face.

Ferrara says that his wife could be easily pleased or impressed. All objects gave her equal pleasure. The costly jewel gifted to her by her husband and the cherry given to her by some foolish servant - both were regarded as equal by the Duchess. According to him, the Duchess had no discrimination.

Ferrara considers it beneath his dignity to instruct her, what she should or should not do. She smiled when he passed by her. She did the same when other men passed by her. Ferrara was not able to tolerate it, so he had murdered. This is the only way he could think of to stop her smiling indiscriminately.

Ferrara says that he will not openly demand any dowry but that he expects the ambassador’s master’s daughter to bring him much dowry. Before leaving the hall the Duke shows the ambassador the sculpture of Neptune, the sea-god taming the powerful sea-horse. What Ferrara indirectly conveys is that he will tame his future wife also as Neptune tamed the sea-horse.

Thus the poem depicts the harsh reality of a controlling marriage and a dominating husband who enjoys tyrannical power.

 

Ulysses - Alfred Lord Tennyson

 

Ulysses   - Alfred Lord Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson is the author of the poem ‘Ulysses’. He wrote the poem in 1833. It is written in the form of a dramatic monologue spoken by Ulysses. The character appears in Homer’s Greek epic ‘The Odyssey’ and Dante’s Italian epic ‘The Inferno’. Tennyson wrote this poem after the unexpected death of his friend Arthur Henry Hallam. In this poem, the author tells us the tale of Ulysses who sets out for a final voyage before his death.

Ulysses has just returned from the Trojan War. Ulysses is old but is still full of wanderlust. Having led an adventurous life for many years, he finds that he has to remain idle in Ithaca. He complains that life in Ithaca is very dull. His wife is aged. There is no scope for romance at home and adventure in the country. The people of Ithaca are sluggish and do not understand his greatness as a leader. He wants to go on a voyage again so that he can enjoy the richness of life till the last moment of his life.

 Ulysses wants to hand over the kingdom to his son Telemachus. He says that his and his son’s talents are quite different. Ulysses has wandered all over the world and had many rich experiences. He has observed a variety of cultures and governments. He was respected wherever he went. In spite of his extensive travelling, he does not want to take rest. He has an unquenchable thirst for wandering and adventure. He wants to have more and more experiences. Telemachus is an administrator par excellence. He is immensely patient and can civilize the rugged Ithacans by degrees. He can win over the people by exhibiting love and concern for them.

Ulysses explains his plan to his brave followers. He tells them frankly that his purpose is to take them to the very end of the western horizon where the stars are supposed to bathe. He also wants to go to the Happy Isles, the abode of the souls of the illustrious dead. He hopes to meet there the brave Achilles who got killed in the Trojan War. Ulysses points to the mariner that in the process of discovering these new lands they may meet their death. Ulysses’ followers are as brave as he is. None of them are discouraged by the prospect of death.

All of them have the same mind set. Though they are weakened by time and fate, they are still mentally strong to work hard and find what they searched for. They are determined not to yield to despair.

A Patch of Land - C.Subramania Bharati

 

 A Patch of Land     - C.Subramania Bharati

C.Subramania Bharati is the author of the poem ‘A Patch of Land’. He was born on 11^th December 1882 at Ettayapuram in Tamilnadu and died on 11^th September 1921 in Chennai. He was a poet, journalist, social reformer and polyglot. He is bestowed the title "Mahakavi Bharathi" for his excellence in poetry. He was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry and is considered one of the greatest Tamil literary figures of all time. His well known works are ‘Kannan Pattu’, ‘Panchali Sapatham’, ‘Kuyil Pattu’. The poem ‘A Patch of Land’ depicts the desire of the poet for a peaceful, beautiful and natural atmosphere in which he wants to live.

The poet starts the poem by requesting the Goddess Parashakti, the goddess of power to grant him a patch of land. In Tamil text, ‘A Patch of land’ is called ‘Kanni nilam i.e.1.32acres. In the midst of the land, he desires to have a bungalow with the decorative pillars. He wishes to have balconies in that house and to be painted in white. The white color will give the poet peace of mind. In the land, nearby the well, he dreams to have ten to twelve coconut trees with long fronds and tender nuts.

The wish list of the poet continues. Being the lover of nature, he wants to sit and watch the moonlight entering through the groves like a shining pearl. He also wants to listen to the songs of the cuckoos while there is a gentle breeze. The gentle breeze will bring pleasure to his soul. He further appeals to the Supreme power to provide him a young woman with chastity as his life partner. He wants to share the joyous moment with her. Finally the poet appeals to the Supreme power to protect him and his wife for the sake of his powerful poetry. He assures to Parashakti that he is ready to submit his poetic abilities to save this earth. He concludes the poem with a note of prayer to protect the whole world. From this poem we can understand the poet’s love towards nature and the well being of others.