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What Is The Tone Of My Last Duchess

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In the poem 'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning, the speaker, or the Duke, develops distinct tones when he speaks in remembrance of his last Duchess' portrait, which hangs from the wall in his gallery. The tone of the Duke portrays his different emotions towards his ex-wife, as he converses with a silent male auditor. In the poem, the Duke speaks about the Duchess with a bitter tone. For instance, he states that the Duchess is "too easily impressed; she liked whate'er she looked on." This quote implies that when the Duchess was alive, she accepted flirtations from different men, and her eyes went everywhere instead of remaining only on her husband. The caustic approach of the Duke towards this thought reveals that the Duke is an envious man.

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