Last Duchess by Robert Browning Essay

In an attempt to curb his boredom, the imprisoned lawyer spends his time reading, writing, and playing music, while the banker slowly loses his money. Realizing that if the lawyer fulfills his part of the deal, the banker will lose the remainder of his fortune, he plots to murder him. Unbeknownst to the banker, the lawyer has developed a disdain for material things and has counter-plotted in favor of the banker to leave his prison five minutes before the deadline. During his imprisonment, the lawyer has learned to appreciate non-material things, whereas the banker's pride nearly led to his downfall. In this regard, the banker should be eternally grateful towards the lawyer for having spared him the guilt that would come with committing a murder, and allowing him to keep his money.

In "The Debt," a downtrodden Fanny encounters a young boy, Francois Guerland, that is of worse disposition that she. Though she had considered taking advantage of him, before she knew he as a young boy, she quickly changes her mind and is charitable towards the young man, going as far as giving him money.It is later revealed, that soon after her act of charity, she was arrested and thrown into jail. Fifteen years later, Francois learns of Fanny's predicament, and even though it appears as though she threw her life away, and was bound to "end her days at La Salpetriere," Francois resolves to return the kindness shown to him when he was penniless and roaming the streets. Like the lawyer in "The Bet," Francois renounces material objects, but does it not to save himself, but to save the life of another. Francois is later mocked because he is a "man who allows himself to be kept by women," but his reasons are unknown to his critics. It is unclear whether Francois enjoys the company of these women solely for financial reasons, or if he considers himself a male companion, providing comfort and joy to the women his is "kept"….....