Final answer:
The Duke in Browning's 'My Last Duchess' shows his obsession with power and status through his expectation that his wife value his ancient lineage, his authoritarianism as shown by his ability to 'give commands', and his possessiveness over his late Duchess's image as an object that signifies his wealth and status.
Step-by-step explanation:
An example from the Duke's monologue in Robert Browning's My Last Duchess that demonstrates his obsession with power and status can be found in the lines: "as if she ranked My gift of a nine-hundred-years-old name With anybody's gift".
This exhibits the Duke's preoccupation with his aristocratic lineage and his expectation that others should also value it above all else. His diction, emphasizing his venerable heritage, reveals his deep-seated need for dominance and veneration.
The Duke's fixation on control over his environment and the people in it is further evidenced when he says "I gave commands; Then all smiles stopped together."
This line chillingly suggests that he has the absolute power to determine the fate of those who displease him, alluding to the possible demise of his former Duchess. It highlights the Duke's authoritarian nature and his equating of obedience with respect for his authority.
Lastly, the possessiveness inherent in the Duke's attitude towards his late Duchess and her portrayed image is best captured by the lines: "Will't please you sit and look at her? I said 'Fra Pandolf' by design, for never read Strangers like you that pictured countenance, The depth and passion of its earnest glance."
This indicates that he sees her as an object for display, a testament to his taste, wealth, and the status he commands which allows him to acquire such treasures.