Mrs Johnstone is an iconic figure in literature, having been the subject of both literary analysis and admiration since William Browning wrote the poem "My Last Duchess" in 1842. Mrs. Johnstone was the wife of a powerful Italian Duke and is believed to have been a representation of a real person named Lucrezia de' Medici who lived during the Renaissance period. In the poem, Mrs. Johnstone is an aristocratic woman who is presented as a beautiful and mysterious figure with a great deal of personal power. She is portrayed as a woman of both status and great beauty, but who ultimately suffers a fate of death by her husband's hand.
The five best essay topics related to Mrs. Johnstone are:
1. Analyze the symbolic value of Mrs. Johnstone in William Browning's "My Last Duchess".
2. Explore the implications of Mrs. Johnstone's role in the poem, specifically her impact on themes such as power, control, beauty, and death.
3. Compare and contrast the poem's description of Mrs. Johnstone to that of other figures in literature, such as the Duchess of Malfi or Juliet from Romeo and Juliet.
4. Analyze the effects of William Browning's presentation of Mrs. Johnstone on the perception of women in literature and in society at large.
5. Examine the connections between Mrs. Johnstone and the real-life figure Lucrezia de' Medici, and the effects that her life had on the poem's message and meaning.