What does the painting symbolize in My Last Duchess?

The painting of the Duke’s last Duchess symbolizes how he objectifies women as property or possessions. “White mule” symbolizes her innocence and purity. “Taming a sea-horse” is a symbol of Duke taming his wife.

What is a bough of cherries?

The words orchard and cherries help define bough, because an orchard is a place where people grow fruit trees, and cherries grow on the branches of cherry trees. A bough is a branch or, in this case, a branch covered in cherries.

What is the statue that Claus of Innsbruck?

Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! Before the Duke and his listener leave the gallery, the Duke points out one more of his art objects – a bronze statue of Neptune, the god of the sea, taming a sea-horse.

Why does the duke hide the Duchess painting behind a curtain?

Eventually, “I gave commands; then all smiles stopped together.” In an interview, Browning said, “I meant that the commands were that she should be put to death Or he might have had her shut up in a convent.” The duke now keeps her painting hidden behind a curtain that only he is allowed to draw back, thus now she …

What is a bough meaning?

a branch of a tree
Definition of bough : a branch of a tree especially : a main branch.

What is the etymology of bough?

bough (n.) 1)), from Proto-Germanic *bogaz (source also of Old Norse bogr “shoulder,” Old High German buog “upper part of the arm or leg,” German Bug “shoulder, hock, joint”), from PIE root *bhagu- “arm” (source also of Sanskrit bahus “arm,” Armenian bazuk, Greek pakhys “forearm”).

What sculpture was pointed out by the speaker at the end of the poem My Last Duchess?

At the end of his speech, he invites the ambassador to go downstairs with him. As he does so, he points out another one of his favourite works of art from his collection: a bronze sculpture of the sea-god Neptune brutally taming a sea-horse.

What is the significance of the curtain The Duke refers to in the painting?

What is the hiding the portrait behind the curtain symbolic of? A life hidden away from truth. Even in death, the Duke hides the Duchess, another way of controlling her existence.

Why does the dog hide the Duchess painting behind a curtain?

What is a bough in literature?

A bough is a large branch of a tree. [literary]

What does the statue of Neptune allude to in the poem My Last Duchess?

In “My Last Duchess,” Neptune is an allusion to the Roman god of the sea.

What is the significance of the curtain The duke refers to in the painting?

Why is the curtain over the painting drawn only by the duke?

The duke keeps the painting of the duchess behind a curtain as a means of postmortem control. That is, he wants control over who gets to see her image.