When traveling, it is easy to observe differences in social norms from country to country. Differences within a country can also be observed, for example, the social norms of a small town or village versus those of a large metropolis. Differences in social norms can also be observed in the literature. This essay will focus on two dramatic monologues, written by poets who lived in England during the same period. Robert Browning published My Last Duchess in 1842, the same year Alfred Tennyson published Ulysses. Both poets lived in England during the Victorian era. However, examining the characters in their poetry, namely Alfonso in My Last Duchess and Ulysses in Ulysses, we can see that they express opposite norms regarding the control of power, change, form and death. “E'en then there would be some sag; and I choose to never stoop. Oh lord, she smiled, without a doubt, every time I passed her; but who passed without the same smile? This has grown; I gave commands; Then all the smiles stopped together” (Lines 42-46) (Browning 714). This implies that Alfonso cannot belittle his wife's behavior, which leads him to kill her. He doesn't want to stoop for her, which means he doesn't want to give in to her to get her attention like that. Instead of being kind to her, he chooses to exert his power over her, a power he is afraid of losing. Yet, even after killing her, he keeps her photo and covers it with the curtain. This is his way of putting her in her place, a prison of sorts, where he chooses when and to whom she will smile again. Then he says to the servant of the Count of Tyrol “the curtain I have drawn for you” and shows him the painting. From Alfonso's words, we can say that he is satisfied with this action because...... middle of paper...... In My Last Duchess, Browning shows that the thing has a form, which he literally has and all they can see it, it had value and it won't change forever. Browning also states that death can still bring back something he desires. In contrast, Tennyson claims that the powers themselves neither attract nor move him. One death will give him nothing. Therefore, getting what he wants means more to him. Browning finds no interest in the thing, which has a form and will not change forever. The change itself actually has value. From this, even though Browning and Tennyson lived in the same era, their standards are very different. Works Cited Browning, Robert. "My last duchess." Literature across cultures. Ed. SheilaGillespie, et al 4th edition. New York: Longman, 2005.Tennyson, Alfred. "Ulysses". Victorian literature, 1830-1900. Boston: McPeek, 2002. pp. 399-400. Press.