This is poem is an allegory representing misuse of power. It reads: Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me!. As a result, he gave commands; / Then all smiles stopped together. The Duke couldnt bear not being the only one for Duchess smiles, and thus, presumably, had her killed. The city of Ferrara is closely bound to the Este family and, under their rule, it became an internationally known capital for the arts, economics and religion. The reader can assume, however, that the duke does not give commands to her directly; to him, any instruction would be "stooping.". Wheneer I passed her; but who passed without The listener is an emissary who is helping to negotiate a marriage between a counts daughter and the Duke. The depth and passion of its earnest glance, "My Last Duchess by Robert Browning". Een then would be some stooping; and I choose Nay, well goTogether down, sir. The misogynistic character of the poem is a severe contrast to Browning himself whowhile writing in the persona of men like the duke, who dominated (and barely loved) their wivespenned endearing love poems to his own Elizabeth. Photo: Getty. An obsessive Duke shows a visitor, and readers, a . ' My Last Duchess ' by Robert Browning is a chilling poem about the value of women in a duke's life. The most engaging element of the poem is probably the speaker himself, the duke. . Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule The story is thoroughly gripping; there is something about the gothic horror that captures the imagination. As suggested by the character heading at the beginning of the speech, the speaker's name is Ferrara. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Izzy writes about the final girl trope: a modern subversion of classic Gothic elements. Kylie Minogue brought out her sister Dannii Minogue during her performance at the Sydney WorldPride opening concert. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,Wheneer I passed her; but who passed withoutMuch the same smile? He does not reveal whether she is deceased or put away in a convent somewhere. I repeat, And yet, it speaks volumes of the treatment of women in the Victorian time of the Brownings. About Genius Contributor Guidelines Press Shop Advertise. In the first edition of Dramatic Lyrics, the poem was merely titled "Italy". Sir, twas all one! My Last Duchess, poem of 56 lines in rhyming couplets by Robert Browning, published in 1842 in Dramatic Lyrics, a volume in his Bells and Pomegranates series. Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! Notice Neptune, though,Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! About Genius Contributor Guidelines Press Shop Advertise. "Analysis of the Robert Browning's Poem 'My Last Duchess'." Definitely worth a read. There she standsAs if alive. While it is clear that the Duke doesn't approve of the "spot of joy" (lines 15-16) on her cheek, we aren't sure whether it is an addition fabricated by the friar or whether the Duchess did indeed blush during the painting session. For a Victorian woman to be morally good, she must embody "sensitivity, self-sacrifice, innate purity." Suddenly, our speaker seems somewhat psychotic. Well meet. Much the same smile? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were all smiles as they stepped out for their first night out since the release of "Spare.". My favour at her breast,The dropping of the daylight in the West,The bough of cherries some officious foolBroke in the orchard for her, the white muleShe rode with round the terraceall and eachWould draw from her alike the approving speech,Or blush, at least. It is compiled predominantly of iambic pentameter and contains a lot of enjambment (sentences that don't end at the end of the lines). Will 't please you rise? That's when the dramatic monologue begins: The Duke behaves cordially enough, asking his guest if he would like to gaze at the paintingwe are witnessing the speaker's public persona. Too easily impressed; she liked whateer That's my last Duchess painted on the wall,Looking as if she were alive. Alain-Ren Lesage (French pronunciation: [al ne lsa]; 6 May 1668 - 17 November 1747; older spelling Le Sage) was a French novelist and playwright.Lesage is best known for his comic novel The Devil upon Two Sticks (1707, Le Diable boiteux), his comedy Turcaret (1709), and his picaresque novel Gil Blas (1715-1735). Most scholars agree that Browning derived his character from a 16th-century Duke of the same title: Alfonso II d'Este, a renowned patron of the arts who was also rumored to have poisoned his first wife. In this section of My Last Duchess, the Duke seems to be remembering his former Duchess and all that bothered him about her. 30Would draw from her alike the approving speech, 31Or blush, at least. Notice how Browning uses the statue, which the Duke has had specially commissioned, to ironically reveal the Duke's inflated self-image: The Duke sees himself as Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, exercising his power over a fragile, defenseless seahorse that symbolizes both his Last Duchess and his future bride. As if alive. Every single person that visits Poem Analysis has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. 21 "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning (Dramatic Monologue) Biography. We'll meetThe company below then. My Last Duchess opens up with the speaker asking a listener if he would please sit down and look at a portrait of his last Duchess. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our work is created by a team of talented poetry experts, to provide an in-depth look into poetry, like no other. but thanked. 4Worked busily a day, and there she stands. This indicates the Dukes status. In. The poem ends with the Duke leading the courtier to the rest of his party, reiterating that the Dukes interest in the new lady is not only for her inheritance but also her own selfa great nod to the question of the speaker's reliability. Notice Neptune, though,Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity,Which Claus of Innsbruck cast in bronze for me! The predominant theme of "My Last Duchess" is the speakers obsession with control. My Last Duchess American Drama A Raisin in the Sun Aeschylus Amiri Baraka Antigone Arcadia Tom Stoppard August Wilson Cat on a Hot Tin Roof David Henry Hwang Dutchman Edward Albee Eugene O'Neill Euripides European Drama Fences August Wilson Goethe Faust Hedda Gabler Henrik Ibsen Jean Paul Sartre Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Lillian Hellman This poem by American poet Richard Howard provides the Ferrara's guest'sperspective on the meeting between himself and the duke. 38Or that in you disgusts me; here you miss, 39Or there exceed the markand if she let, 40Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set, 41Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse, 42Een then would be some stooping; and I choose. It is one of Brownings most successful dramatic monologues. This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. The poem first appeared in 1842 in Dramatic Lyrics(1841-1846). Never to stoop. Have a specific question about this poem? This page was last edited on 26 October 2022, at 14:39. Context: The speaker is most likely Alfonso II d'Este, the fifth Duke of Ferrara (1533-1598), who, at the age of 25, married Lucrezia di Cosimo de' Medici, the 14-year-old daughter of . Strangers like you that pictured countenance, Will't please you sit and look at her? It is, of course, a masterful, subtle composition that displays Robert Brownings outstanding poetic skills. 4.9 (19 reviews) "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue presented in a single stanza. She thanked mengood! He robbed her of her joy with his controlling, The Count your masters known munificence, Though his fair daughters self, as I avowed. With anybodys gift. "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue by Robert Browning, first published in Browning's 1842 verse volume Dramatic Lyrics. She thanked mengood! My Last Duchess - Critical Commentary. Her wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse I said. "My Last Duchess," published in 1842, is arguably Browning's most famous dramatic monologue, with good reason. Whod stoop to blame, In speech(which I have not)to make your will, Quite clear to such an one, and say, Just this. Since December last year, Harry's popularity has sunk by 48 points and Meghan's by 40, giving them net approval ratings of -10 and -17 respectively, according to a survey by Redfield & Wilton for . The Duke is a tyrant and his aristocratic arrogance his belief that he is above the law can be taken as a message to all those who abuse power, not least the British Government of the time. Note that he and fellow poet, Elizabeth Barrett, had to elope to marry in Italy because of her fathers objection. The speaker is believed to be based on Alfonso II d'Este, the fifth Duke of Ferrara (15331598). Madruz is presumably the person addressed by the duke in the poem. but thanked, With anybodys gift. Well meet, 49The Count your masters known munificence, 52Though his fair daughters self, as I avowed, 53At starting, is my object. This is something that can be seen in this particular work, My Last Duchess. This man seems more and more psychotic and controlling as. Will t please you rise? Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess" shows women that there are consequences of behaving child-like and conforming to men's will. However, the husband might very well patronize one of London's many prostitutes, thereby obliterating the sanctity of the marriage and endangering his innocent wife otherwise. My Last Duchess - Context. 5Willt please you sit and look at her? Finally, at the end of the monologue, there is a reference to another of the Dukes acquisitionsNeptune taming a sea-horsewhich he points out is a rarity, cast in bronze specifically for him. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Here, the only speaker is the Duke of Ferrara. The final lines of the poem display the Duke showing off another of his artistic acquisitions. On one hand, it is a twisted plan, coupling evil and holy together. The poems narrator is the duke of Ferrara, who comments dispassionately on the portrait of his late wife hanging on the wall, remarking on the duchesss innocence and character. Will t please you sit and look at her? Societal constraints meant that many lived sexually repressed, limited lives. He brings the man back downstairs with him, and as they walk, he points out the bronze statue that was made especially for him. the effect created by the tension between sympathy and moral judgement. "My Last Duchess" is a poem that was written by Robert Browning. It is compiled predominantly of iambic pentameter and contains a lot of enjambment (sentences that dont end at the end of the lines). Request a transcript here. This man is silent during the entire poem. Deciphering the hints and tracking the way Browning reveals the nature of his villain seem to fascinate students. Dramatic Monologue Certainly, women were oppressed during the 1500s, the era in which "My Last Duchess" takes place. New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1981. New York: Ronald, 1950. but thankedSomehowI know not howas if she rankedMy gift of a nine-hundred-years-old nameWith anybody's gift. The speaker is the Duke of Ferrara, an important city and cultural centre of Italy. When she defied her father's demands and married Robert Browning, Elizabeth became dead to her father and he never saw her againunless, of course, he kept a picture of Elizabeth on his wall. She looked on, and her looks went everywhere. Popularity He explained that he gave commands and then all smiles stopped together. Its just a pause in the monologue. He also describes how he was recently married, inspired by a portrait of his late wife. The genius of such characterization lies in the fact that the poet himself does not provide any moral judgement on the audacious nature of the duke. I call That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. I call That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolf's hands Worked busily a day, and there she stands. It first appeared in 1842 in Browning's Dramatic Lyrics. What the painting captures appears to be a watered-down version of the Duchess's joyfulness. [1] The poem is composed in 28 rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter. SomehowI know not howas if she ranked Instead, he gives commands and "all smiles stopped together" (line 46). One of the powerful aspects of this poem is indeed this uncertainty created for the readerdid the Duke execute a guilty wife or did he end the life of an innocent, kind-hearted woman? The poem was published in the year 1842 in the third series of Bells and Pomegranate. Lucrezia was well-educated, and the Medicis could be considered "nouveau riche" in comparison to the venerable and distinguished Este family (Alfonso II d'Este's remark regarding his gift of a "nine-hundred-years-old name" clearly indicates that he considered his bride beneath him socially). The poem "My Last Duchess" by Robert Browning revolves around the theme of wariness, recklessness and control. Strangers like you that pictured countenance. This poem by American poet Richard Howard provides the Ferrara's guest'sperspective on the meeting between himself and the duke. Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall, That piece a wonder, now: Fr Pandolfs hands. She was a lovely, happy, smiling person. A hearthow shall I say?too soon made glad. I call The statue is of Neptune taming a sea horse. This section of My Last Duchess reveals the identity of the Dukes listener. Willt please you rise? Really a long dramatic monologue, the poem described the career of the sixteenth-century alchemist, and achieved popular success, establishing Browning as a familiar name with the reading public, if not yet as a great poet. The life of a Victorian wife was a perilous one. Chris de Burgh (a Northern Irish singer-songwriter, best known for "Lady in Red") wrote a song from the perspective of the Duke of Ferrara about his former wife, in which the duchess was having an affair with Fra Pandolf. The Duke did not like that she would blush at the flirtations of another man. This symbolizes the Duke, and the sea horse symbolizes any Duchess he would acquire. Even had you skillIn speech(which I have not)to make your willQuite clear to such an one, and say, Just thisOr that in you disgusts me; here you miss,Or there exceed the markand if she letHerself be lessoned so, nor plainly setHer wits to yours, forsooth, and made excuse,Een then would be some stooping; and I chooseNever to stoop. The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool, Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule, She rode with round the terraceall and each. For calling up that spot of joy. Analysis. He draws a curtain to reveal a painting of a woman, explaining that it is a portrait of his late wife; he invites his guest to sit and look at the painting. 'My Last Duchess' is an amazingly, terrifyingly creepy poem by Robert Browning, who was a Victorian poet born in 1812 and died in 1889. Get the entire guide to My Last Duchess as a printable PDF. Based on the Dukes words, we can infer that the courtier asked what produced such an expression. too soon made glad" He goes on to say that his complaint of her was that "'twas not her husband's presence only" that made her happy. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. My Last Duchess. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. because it suited his genius, and also because it had a number of other advantages. Together down, sir. Worked busily a day, and there she stands. This is a curious thing to say. In Robert Browning's poem, the Duke of Ferrara speaks to an agent representing the count. She rode with round the terrace all and each. Taking to TikTok, Carly Silverman uploaded a video of her sister-in-law's nifty way of storing her coffee pods and best of all, it only set her back $7. It was published in a book of poems named "Dramatic Lyrics" in 1842. And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first, Are you to turn and ask thus. It has become clear that the Duke didnt like his wife to smile at anyone else but him and required her to elevate him above everyone else. Never to stoop. His need for control, along with his jealousy, are also perceptible when the Duke decides to uncover the painting for the courtier. As a result, the Dukes speech seems always flowing, never inviting a space for any response; he is the one in complete charge. Taming a sea-horse, thought a rarity, Being of a higher society, the speaker automatically possesses a large amount of authority and power. The dramatic monologue is a practice in using both content and silence to present meaning. To critique the oppressive, male-dominated society of his age, Browning often gave voice to villainous characters, each representing the antithesis of his worldview. Together down, sir. My last Duchess summary tells us how he thinks she did not respect his lineage. "My Last Duchess" is a famous poem written by Robert Browning. The courtier has noticed the curtain which conceals a painting, and the Duke decides to treat his guest to a viewing of this very special portrait of his late wife. He briefly explains his thoughts on the duchess. My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name Browning, of the Victorian age, wrote real-life poetry that reflected upon some of the darkest aspects of Victorian life. Even had you skill, In speechwhich I have notto make your will, Quite clear to such an one, and say, Just this. He is stuck on himselffull of narcissism and misogyny. The Duke continues to explain that he chooses never to stoop to discuss with his Duchess what made him so disgusted with her. (2020, August 28). The ideas marked the birth of modern town planning. "My Last Duchess" is a famous poem written by Robert Browning, one of the greatest Victorian poets. His bride died three years later, at age 17, and is thought to have been poisoned. This man seems more and more psychotic and controlling as My Last Duchessgoes on. Sir, t was all one! In this post, I'm going to go over a bit of historical context, recap the story of the poem, and discuss the ending, which was rushed at the end of last lesson. Lucrezia was part of the Medici family, an incredibly wealthy banking family that gained political prominence during the 15th century. Actor Julian Glover performs "My Last Duchess" with a suitably dramatic tone of voice. It is probably the finest example of Brownings dramatic monologues, in which he paints a devastating portrait of the Duke Ferraras vicious personality. He suggests that she did something he didnt approve of and that her behavior displeased him. As a result, the Duke's speech seems always flowing, never inviting a space for any response; he is the one in complete charge. Yet, the painting appears to be the only place where the Duchess smile is allowed. Readers who enjoyedMy Last Duchessshould also consider reading some other Robert Browning poems. It is a dramatic monologue in which the speaker is the Duke of Ferrara addressing a silent listener. "My Last Duchess" is a famous dramatic monolog by poet Robert Browning. This grew; I gave commands; 46Then all smiles stopped together. It is, however, possible that when the friar paints her, she blushes out of pleasure to be near him. Instant PDF downloads. Some readers believe that the Duchess isn't as innocent and that her "smiles" are really a code word for promiscuous behavior. She thanked men,good! A hearthow shall I say? too soon made glad. Even had you skill But it is about the inner thoughts of an individual speaker, instead of a dialogue between more than one person. Murder, mystery and intrigue all describe Robert Browning's poem, "My Last Duchess." From the speakers' indirect allusions to the death of his wife the reader is easily lead to think that the speaker committed a vengeful crime out of jealousy. The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool, Broke in the orchard for her, the white mule, She rode with round the terraceall and each. Apple Studios today announced a greenlight for "The Last Frontier," a new 10-episode original drama from creators Jon Bokenkamp ("The Blacklist") and Richard D'Ovidio ("The Call") that will star Jason Clarke ("Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty," upcoming "Oppenheimer," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Chappaquiddick," "Everest," "Dawn of the Planet of the Apes," "Mudbound," "First Man" ) in the . M. My Last Duchess. ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/analysis-of-my-last-duchess-2713679. In the original edition, the poem is printed side-by-side with "Count Gismond" under the heading "Italy and France," and the two poems share a similar concern with issues of aristocracy and honor. It seems the Duchess cared about her husband and often showed him that look of joy and love, but he feels that she "ranked / [his] gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name / With anybody's gift" (lines 32-34). For example: Sign up to unveil the best kept secrets in poetry. Poem Solutions Limited International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct,London, EC1A 2BN, United Kingdom, Discover and learn about the greatest poetry, straight to your inbox, Discover and learn about the greatest poetry ever straight to your inbox. Was courtesy, she thought, and cause enough In March of 1914, Cornhill Magazine interviewed Robert Browning about some of his poems, including "My Last Duchess." Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. The other characters mentioned in the poem are fictional. The question that still remains unanswered is, why is this his last Duchess? The poem is written mostly in iambic pentameter. This irritated the Duke so much that was not even willing to stoop to her level to discuss it with her. In the collection of 1849, it was made one of the Dramatic Romances and Lyrics, and in the rearrangement of the poems in 1863, it was put under Dramatic Romances. It also shows how determined he is his rhythmic speech implies he is unfazed by what he does. Ferrara married Lucrezia di Cosimo Medici when he was twenty-five. Would draw from her alike the approving speech, Or blush, at least. Looking as if she were alive. This means that the lines contain five sets of two beats, the first of which is unstressed and the second of which is stressed. Both the Duchess and her painted image are described using similes. He was born into a . But to myself they turned (since none puts by My Last Duchess. This grew; I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together. He was annoyed that she liked everything that she looked at. There she stands, As if alive. The statue is of Neptune taming a sea horse. Who'd stoop to blameThis sort of trifling? The Duke then, in 1564, sought the hand of Barbara, eighth daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary and the sister of the Count of Tyrol, Ferdinand II. 'My Last Duchess' Questions for Study and Discussion, Love and the Brownings: Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Eliza Doolittle's Final Monologues from 'Pygmalion', Themes in Shakespeare's 'The Rape of Lucrece', A Guide to Wordsworth's Themes of Memory and Nature in 'Tintern Abbey', Wallis Simpson: Her Life, Legacy, and Marriage to Edward VIII, Summary of William Shakespeare's Play 'As You Like It', Poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning Elope., M.A., Literature, California State University - Northridge, B.A., Creative Writing, California State University - Northridge. The best Poetry tutors available. (24) The lover reveals himself to be obsessed with and angry at the woman for not making him her primary and only love: "Murmuring how she loved meshe/ Too . Fra Pandolf by design, for never read Two hyphens represent an En or Em dash () which is longer than a hyphen (-) and used in different circumstances. I said "Fra Pandolf" by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, Many of Browning's poems, including 'My Last Duchess', were set in Ferrara, a town in Italy. The dropping of the daylight in the West, This represents the speakers control even over his words, although this control loosens when the Duke is overcome with anger. Any mistakes are my own (as are any brilliant sparks of analytical genius. He says, "She had a heart how shall I say? https://www.thoughtco.com/analysis-of-my-last-duchess-2713679 (accessed March 1, 2023). Rhythm and Meter Objectively, it's easy to identify him . "My Last Duchess", Robert Browning uses point of view, diction, and imagery to achieve a powerful effect, underlining the attitude and personality of the Duke. Bradford, Wade. "My Last Duchess" doesn't read like a typical lyric poem. Historical background [ edit] "My Last Duchess" is a dramatic monologue written by Victorian poet Robert Browning in 1842. It would seem that she was too easily pleased by everyone around her. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Notice Neptune, though. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. The speaker (the Duke of Ferrara) directs the attention of a guest to a painting of his former wife, the Duchess of Ferrara, which hangs on the wall. Even had you skill, In speech(which I have not)to make your will, Quite clear to such an one, and say, 'Just this. This is reinforced by the structure of the poem itselfin the monologue, with no response from the courtier, let alone the Duchess, the Duke is allowed to present himself and the story in whichever way suits him best. There she standsAs if alive. The Duke demonstrates many narcissistic tendencies as he recalls the time he shared with his now-deceased Duchess. Whod stoop to blame, 35This sort of trifling? The Duke might not reveal his explosive emotions to the courtier as they sit and look at the painting, but the reader can deduce that the Duchess's lack of worshipfulness infuriated her husband. Bradford, Wade. Oh, sir, she smiled, no doubt,Whene'er I passed her; but who passed withoutMuch the same smile? Corrections? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The dropping of the daylight in the West, The bough of cherries some officious fool, -- E'en then would be some stooping; and I choose, Though his fair daughter's self, as I avowed, Robert Browning (1812-1899) was a master of the dramatic monologue, and My Last Duchess is one, Alfonso II d'Este, the fifth Duke of Ferrara (15331598), Mother, Any Distance Greater than a Single Span. It first appeared in 1842 in Browning's Dramatic Lyrics. Poets often use literary techniques to clearly convey the personalities of their speakers. He wrote and directed seven productions for Yorba Linda Civic Light Opera's youth theater. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. 5 (33 reviews) Nico. My Last Duchess, poem of 56 lines in rhyming couplets by Robert Browning, published in 1842 in Dramatic Lyrics, a volume in his Bells and Pomegranates series. This short dramatic sentence encapsulates the strength of the Duke's contempt and a shift in the tone of the poem. [1] The poem is composed in 28 rhyming couplets of iambic pentameter . My favour at her breast. And seemed as they would ask me, if they durst, How such a glance came there; so, not the first, Are you to turn and ask thus. (Fujii Kaze) - (Shinunoga E-Wa) (Romanized), Type out all lyrics, even repeating song parts like the chorus, Lyrics should be broken down into individual lines. 1Thats my last Duchess painted on the wall, 3That piece a wonder, now; Fra Pandolfs hands. Herself be lessoned so, nor plainly set Note how he emphasizes the conversational quality of the poem. A hearthow shall I say? too soon made glad, It first appeared in 1842, is said to be an altered depiction of a historical incidence of Duke of Ferrara who is exhibiting the undistorted, life-like portrait of his Duchess to the servant of a Court daughter he wishes to marry. The bough of cherries some officious fool Loading. She had Chris de Burgh (a Northern Irish singer-songwriter, best known for "Lady in Red") wrote a song from the perspective of the Duke of Ferrara about his former wife, in which the duchess was having an affair with Fra Pandolf. Poets Message Quite clear to such an one, and say, Just this He thinks it would be trifling to do so. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. The irony is that his criticisms of his duchess reveal his own murderous nature and how far he is from seeing it himself. 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