Attitude Towards Women Illustrated in the Poems to His Coy Mistress and My Last Duchess

'My Last Duchess' by Robert Browning and 'To His Coy Mistress' by Andrew Marvell, share the same theme of women from the Victorian and Elizabethan era respectively. However, both differs from their attitude towards women. The use of figurative language such as hyperbole and irony present the poems in an interesting manner.

The speakers of the poems present women as objects of beauty and pleasure through imagery and figurative language.In 'To His coy Mistress', the woman is portrayed as beautiful,"The youthful hue sits on the skin like morning dew". Here, he praises the fair complexion of the woman through simile. Similarly,in 'My Last Duchess', he comment that the ex-duchess as captivating and alluring,"That's my last duchess painted on the wall, looking as if she were alive.I call that a piece a wonder". The duke is trying to impress the envoy with the ex Duchess beauty as he stops to admire the painting. During those time periods, men only appreciate the appearance of women and are thus viewed as shallow.

In addition, women are viewed as inferior and easily manipulated.The speaker in 'To His Coy Mistress', tries to use flattery to seduce the women to bed," My vegetable love should grow vaster than empires and more slow" clearly indicates that he is exaggerating his love in his desperate attempt to convince her. In 'My Last Duchess', the duke demands the ex-duchess to stop smiling to others and can only smile to him," I gave commands; than all smiles stopped together."that shows that the duke is trying to dictate the ex-duchess' life.

Even though both poems share the same theme, one of the striking differences is the attitude of the speakers towards women. In 'To His Coy Mistress', the speaker is a man who is infatuated by the woman and therefore is trying to make sexual advances. However, he respect the woman and did not force her to do things against her wishes,"For a lady you deserve this state,nor would I love at lower rate". Even though his motive was to have a sexual relationship, he was still polite and thoughtful. He uses hyperboles to praise and persuade her,"As hundred years should go to praise thine eyes,and on thy forehead gaze;". The tone is passionate as he brags about his undying love for her. Later as he becomes impatient and desperate, he threatens her by stating that," then worms shall try that long-preserved virginity," if she does not give in to his request. His tone becomes urgent as time is running out and therefore, hopes that the woman would give in to him.

In 'My Last Duchess', the speaker is a duke talking about his ex-duchess to impress the envoy. The duke is an arrogant, self-centered and egoistic man that treats the duchess as a

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