Who wrote My Last Duchess?

• A. Wordsworth
• B. Samuel Johnson
• C. Robert Browning
• D. Claude McKay

Answer: (C)

This poem is a prime example of a dramatic monologue. Robert Browning writes in the voice of a Renaissance duke who speaks to a visitor about his late wife, and through that single speaker we learn more about his character than about the duchess herself. The power lies in how the duke reveals his vanity, possessiveness, and ruthlessness through what he chooses to say and what he hints at. A famous moment comes when he casually notes that he "gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together," showing how he exerts control and how public appearances mask troubling motives. This technique—letting a character reveal himself through controlled speech—is Browning’s signature, which is why this work is credited to him. The other writers listed did not write this poem.