The Rape of Lucrece

 

William Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece, written in 1593 and published in 1594, a narrative poem that tells the tragic story of the virtuous Roman woman, Lucrece, who is violated by Tarquin, the son of the Roman king Tarquinius Superbus. The poem begins with a dedication to the Earl of Southampton, Henry Wriothesley, and then introduces the background of the story.

The plot centers around Tarquin, who, driven by lust and desire, is incited by the virtue of Lucrece, the wife of his kinsman Collatine. The story unfolds as a group of noblemen, after boasting about the chastity and virtue of their wives, decide to visit their homes. Collatine's wife, Lucrece, is found spinning her wool late at night, a symbol of her purity, while the other wives are involved in revelry. Tarquin, inflamed by her beauty, secretly returns to her house later that night, where he rapes her.

After the assault, Lucrece sends for her father and husband, along with two other noblemen, Brutus and Valerius, to seek justice. She reveals Tarquin as the perpetrator before taking her own life in despair. In her final act, she swears the men to avenge her death. The men, filled with rage, vow to overthrow the Tarquin family, leading to the expulsion of Tarquinius Superbus and the end of the monarchy in Rome, which is replaced by the Roman Republic.

The poem’s detailed narrative is filled with introspective thoughts from both Tarquin and Lucrece. Tarquin grapples with his internal conflict, knowing his desire is unjust and dishonorable, yet he is driven to commit the crime. He rationalizes his actions with a sense of entitlement and ambition, contemplating how he might gain her submission. Lucrece, on the other hand, is portrayed as a paragon of virtue, whose grief and sense of violation drive her to a tragic end. Through her death, the poem conveys themes of honor, shame, and the moral consequences of unchecked desire.

The narrative is rich with reflections on the consequences of actions, particularly the conflict between honor and lust, and it illustrates the ruin that results from one man’s abuse of power and the loyalty and honor of others, such as Lucrece’s family, who seek justice. The poem’s vivid descriptions of the internal struggles of both the victim and the perpetrator deepen its tragic impact.

Summary

Tarquin's Inner Struggle: Tarquin, driven by desire, wrestles with his conscience and the consequences of his intentions. He speaks of how he disregards reason, shame, and any moral objections, believing that his desire for Lucrece outweighs all, and he convinces himself that love and fate are guiding him. He attempts to rationalize his actions by claiming that pain and difficulty accompany the attainment of great things, and he views his crime as inevitable and justified by his lust.

Lucrece’s Beauty and Innocence: As Tarquin spies on Lucrece, her beauty and purity fill him with overwhelming desire. He gazes at her sleeping form, noting her serene beauty, her innocence, and the contrast between life and death in her appearance. Her untainted body and the natural grace she possesses exacerbate his lust, fueling his internal turmoil. Tarquin’s admiration shifts to obsession, and he begins to see her as a prize to be conquered.

The Temptation and Rationalization: Tarquin justifies his desires with various arguments. He points out that beauty has "ensnared" him and that she is to blame for his attraction, asserting that the fault lies with her eyes which have led him astray. He dismisses any doubts, believing that love is an uncontrollable force and that once beauty has stirred his soul, all sense of right and wrong is abandoned.

The Act of Violence: Despite Lucrece’s beauty, purity, and pleas for mercy, Tarquin prepares to act on his desire. His internal conflict subsides as he overcomes the guilt of what he plans to do. He forces his way into her chamber, disregarding any opposition. He even uses the threat of violence against her and her family to ensure that she submits to him, threatening death and disgrace if she resists.

Lucrece's Plea: Lucrece, still unaware of the full horror she is about to face, pleads with Tarquin to spare her honor, her life, and her family's name. She appeals to him using every argument she can: invoking oaths of knighthood, loyalty, friendship, and divine law. She tries to reason with him, asking him to remember the duty he owes to his own sense of honor, as well as to the law and the sanctity of marriage.

Tarquin's Guilt and the Shame of His Actions: Lucrece condemns Tarquin for his sinful actions, comparing him to a tyrant who misuses power and destroys what is pure. She warns him that his dishonorable deeds will have lasting consequences, marking him as a despised figure in history. Kings, she argues, should be models of virtue, but his actions show him to be the opposite. Lucrece paints a vivid picture of the consequences of his actions: they will destroy not only her honor but his own as well.

The Ruin of His Soul and Her Consequences: Lucrece sees Tarquin’s lustful desire as corrupting, and her monologue reveals her fear that his actions will forever stain her reputation. Her speech shifts to a reflection on the destructive power of lust, how it leads to ruin, and how the shame she feels will never be fully washed away. She highlights the immorality of his actions, showing how they degrade both their lives.

Night and Its Symbolism: Lucrece appeals to the night, describing it as a refuge for sin and shame. She wishes for night to conceal her disgrace, but at the same time, she curses the night for being the very thing that allowed her assault to happen. She wishes for eternal darkness to shield her from public judgment, but recognizes that such a thing is impossible. The passage evokes how Tarquin, like a thief, has stolen her honor in the cover of night.

The Role of Opportunity: Lucrece speaks bitterly about the concept of "Opportunity," which she believes is to blame for her downfall. Opportunity, she says, tempts people into sin and grants them the chance to commit terrible acts. She criticizes the nature of this force, noting that it leads to sin and betrayal. Throughout the passage, Opportunity is depicted as a force that facilitates vice and wrongdoing, emphasizing the inevitable consequences of yielding to temptation.

The Lasting Impact of Sin: The impact of Tarquin's actions is portrayed as catastrophic and irreversible. Lucrece meditates on how he will be remembered and how his sin will be passed down through history. His actions, though committed in the shadows, will eventually come to light, and he will forever be linked with disgrace. She is tormented by the thought of how her honor has been tainted and how her reputation, once pure, is now permanently marred.

Lucrece, reflects on her tragic circumstances following her rape by Tarquin. She begins by denouncing Time, portraying it as a destructive force that brings misery, aging, and death. She accuses Time of betraying her by stealing her peace and youth, and she laments that the opportunities for happiness and honor in her life have been corrupted.

Lucrece also critiques the idea of Opportunity, which she feels has abandoned her, and Time for its role in her suffering. She contrasts Time's supposed noble duties—such as calming kings, revealing truth, and protecting justice—with its role in ruining her life. She describes how Time reduces once-grand things, like monuments and books, to decay and obscurity, and how it brings both the rise and fall of human endeavors.

She then shifts to thinking about her own situation, lamenting her loss of honor and considering death as a possible escape from the shame. She contemplates how her reputation and dignity have been stolen, and she expresses regret for not being able to protect herself from Tarquin's crime. She imagines a scenario where she could be vindicated by death, purging her shame through her own sacrifice.

Lucrece then addresses her husband, Collatine, pledging that he will not suffer the humiliation of being associated with her violation. She refuses to allow the fruit of her dishonor to be passed off as his, and she resolves that her own death will be a way to atone for her defilement.

In the latter part of the passage, Lucrece expresses her despair, feeling disconnected from the world around her. She seeks solace in the figure of Philomel, the mythological bird who sings of her own violation, identifying with her sorrow and desolation. Lucrece plans to emulate Philomel's mourning, hoping to find some release for her anguish in the act of suffering and weeping.

She is torn between life and death, questioning whether it would be better to live in shame or die in an attempt to reclaim her honor. She compares her predicament to that of a mother who, after losing one child, kills the other in her desperation. Ultimately, Lucrece struggles with the idea that, by her violation, both her body and soul have been desecrated, and she contemplates whether death might offer her the release and redemption she desperately seeks.

Lucrece considers the sanctity of her body and soul, wondering whether her purity or her love for her husband was more important. She likens her defiled soul to a tree that has lost its bark, indicating that she feels spiritually and physically ruined.

Lucrece, after being assaulted by Tarquin, contemplates her fate and resolves to end her life in a way that will send a clear message of shame to her assailant and to the world.

Lucrece's Will and Resolution: Lucrece expresses her determination not to die until she has communicated the cause of her death to her husband, Collatine, so that he can seek revenge against Tarquin. She writes a "will" that bequeaths her honor to the knife that will end her life, turning her shame into a form of honor after her death. In her mind, by dying, she transforms her shame into a legacy of honor, giving herself some control over her tragic fate. She intends for her blood to stain Tarquin, metaphorically marking him for his crime.

Lucrece's Interaction with Her Maid: After composing her thoughts, Lucrece calls her maid, who is deeply affected by her sorrow. The maid shows sympathy, but she does not understand the full extent of Lucrece's suffering. Lucrece refrains from explaining her grief to her maid, choosing to keep the specifics of the assault to herself. Her maid, moved by Lucrece's distress, weeps without fully knowing the cause.

Reflection on Women’s Vulnerability: Lucrece reflects on the vulnerability of women, who are often seen as the cause of their own victimization, when in fact it is the men who are to blame. She compares women to wax, which can be molded and corrupted, as opposed to men, whose actions are often hidden beneath a harder, more deceptive exterior. She criticizes the double standard that blames women for the actions of men and laments the way men abuse their power.

The Letter to Collatine: Lucrece decides to write a letter to her husband, Collatine, explaining her distress and urging him to come quickly. In this letter, she expresses her deep sorrow and asks for her husband’s swift arrival. However, she deliberately avoids revealing the full truth, leaving her grief somewhat cryptic. She is afraid that if she fully describes the assault, she might be blamed for it, or that Collatine might not believe her.

The Maid’s Departure and Lucrece’s Isolation: After giving the letter to her maid to deliver to Collatine, Lucrece is left alone. She feels the weight of her grief and, finding no comfort in her tears or groans, she decides to look at a painting of the fall of Troy. This artwork, depicting the destruction of Troy and the tragic deaths of its leaders, becomes a mirror for her own suffering. She identifies with the figures in the painting, particularly the image of Hecuba, who weeps for her ruined city.

The Painting of Troy: As Lucrece looks at the painting, she finds herself drawn to the scenes of destruction, loss, and mourning. She reflects on the story of Troy, where the actions of one man, Paris, led to the downfall of an entire city and the deaths of many innocent people. Lucrece sees herself in the story, comparing her own suffering to that of Hecuba and Priam, the fallen leaders of Troy. She mourns not only her own fate but also the broader injustice in the world, where the actions of a single man can bring ruin to many.

Moral Reflections on Lust and Consequences: Lucrece laments that the private lust of one man (Tarquin) has caused public suffering. She condemns Tarquin's actions, noting that if Priam, the king of Troy, had stopped his son Paris from his desire, Troy would not have fallen. Similarly, Lucrece wishes that her own tragedy could serve as a lesson, warning of the far-reaching consequences of one man’s sin.

The poem recounts the tragic story of Lucrece, the wife of Collatine, who is brutally raped by Tarquin, the son of the king. The narrative begins with a description of how Tarquin, with deceptive outward appearances, manages to manipulate and deceive those around him, masking his evil intentions. Lucrece reflects on how Sinon's false tears led to the fall of Troy and compares his deceit to Tarquin's treacherous actions.

Lucrece is horrified by the rape and begins to blame herself for her inability to prevent it. She compares herself to Priam, the king of Troy, who was deceived by Sinon’s false tears, leading to the destruction of Troy. Her grief is overwhelming, and she expresses her despair in comparing Tarquin's pretended gentleness with his inner vice. She realizes that Tarquin's outward appearance of sorrow was a mask to hide his wickedness, much like the image of Sinon in a painting.

Lucrece considers her fate and her loss of honor but still tries to understand how much she can blame herself for the rape. She expresses her hopelessness, thinking that no words can amend the situation, and contemplates her future with a stained reputation.

When Collatine returns home and sees his wife in distress, he is immediately struck with worry. Lucrece, struggling with her sorrow, eventually reveals the traumatic event to him. She describes how Tarquin entered her chamber at night, threatening to kill her if she resisted, and how he raped her, using force to dishonor her.

After hearing her tale, Collatine is consumed with grief. Lucrece, although heartbroken, asks for revenge, urging her husband and other noblemen to vow to avenge her. She seeks justice for the violation of her honor and demands that the wrong be rectified through action. She expresses the need for Tarquin to be punished, even though the damage is done.

The nobles, moved by her words, swear to avenge her, but Lucrece feels hopeless, as the act is irreversible. In her final moments, she reveals the name of her rapist—Tarquin—and then takes her own life by stabbing herself in the heart with a dagger. The poem describes the bloody aftermath of her death, and her father, Lucretius, mourns her tragic loss.

Collatine, Lucrece’s husband, is grief-stricken, and both he and her father lament the death of the woman they loved. The Roman nobles are enraged by the injustice, and Brutus, a Roman leader, urges them to seek revenge for Lucrece's death. He convinces them that Tarquin must be exiled and punished for his crime.

The nobles vow to bring justice by banishing Tarquin, and the poem concludes with the agreement to carry Lucrece’s body through Rome to show her suffering and to publicly condemn Tarquin's crime. The Romans ultimately agree to exile Tarquin, and the poem ends with the resolution of Lucrece’s tragic story and the execution of justice.