The central theme of "The Last Duchess" is the power dynamic between men and women in a patriarchal
society. The Duke is a representative of a privileged and entitled class, and his control over the Duchess is
a manifestation of the broader patriarchal structures that dominated Victorian society. The poem can also
be interpreted as a commentary on the dangers of vanity and pride, as the Duke's desire to control and
possess the Duchess is driven by his own ego and sense of superiority