I agree with you that My Last Duchess is a better detailed poem than The Young Housewife, and that it is a lot more interesting. The Young Housewife has a lot more vague meaning in it that people are supposed to suggest and question are they supposed to see it that way.

Great essay.

C.S.

I like this essay a lot, but I think you're forgetting that this was writtien a long time ago by a man who was married to Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Personally, I think this poem more tells us what happens when women objectify themselves, and don't try to widen their wn horizons. Just my opinion. I love how your essays make me think.

pay it forward.

-Stardust.

I am not sure if you were meant to mention the other poem - the Young Houswife - in there anywhere, to compare the two.
Either way I haven't read these two poems so I don't know what I think of them - this was interesting though! I may have to seek these poems out.