Question

Who is the historical inspiration behind My Last Duchess?

• A. Cosimo de' Medici, Duke of Florence
• B. Ludovico Ariosto, Italian Poet
• C. Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara
• D. Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara

• Alfonso II, Duke of Ferrara (1533–1597) is widely believed to be the historical inspiration for My Last Duchess.

• He was the last Duke of the House of Este and married Lucrezia de’ Medici, the daughter of Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

• Lucrezia died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 16, just two years after their marriage. Rumors suggest that Alfonso may have been responsible for her death due to dissatisfaction with her behavior, which aligns with the Duke's implied actions in Browning’s poem.

• Browning used this historical background to explore themes of power, control, and objectification of women in My Last Duchess, though he fictionalized many aspects of the story.