Rape Of Lucrece
The Rape of Lucrece (for lack of a better title) The Rape of Lucrece represents the famous poet William Shakespeare’s take on a famous legend from the Roman Empire. In this story, Tarquin a young and wealthy Roman citizen, disregards everything that he owns in order to pleasure himself with the body of Lucrece, the young maiden who has caught his eye. Despite the dreary tone of this poem the author manages to analyze topics going well beyond the scope of Rome, the first of which being the efforts of evil in attempting to rid the world of all that is good. In addition, Shakespeare also questions the concept of morality, and the effect it can have on the decisions of a man. Finally Shakespeare examines the social norms of Rome during the time
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of this story, especially the viewing of sexuality and rape. Through his use of eloquent language, Shakespeare explores some of the darker aspects of the human subconscious and the unjust social customs of one of the greatest empires in the history of mankind.
First and foremost, Shakespeare conveys his message of the righteous in the world being trampled by the evil that subsists through his use of literary devices. In lines 25-28 Shakespeare likens Lucrece to beauty and honor with the words: “Against the golden splendour of the sun; Anexpir’d date, cancell’d ere well begun: Honour and beauty, in the owner’s arms, Are weakly fortress’d from a world of harms” (Shakespeare 25-28). Lucrece’s morally upright character shone in the light of the sun since she only gave of herself exclusively to her husband; when night fell however, evil stained the clean soul that Lucrece possesses. Forts can hide purity away from the world, but they can also entrap it as stated by the McAllisters: “Lucrece now imagines her defiled body a ‘blemish'd fort’ from which she longs to free her tormented soul” (Riley, Dick, and Pam McAllister 3). Lucrece’s morals led her to see the horror that had occurred for the sin that it is, and as a result, she feels she has become a blemished individual analogous to Tarquin. Originally, Tarquin did not want to partake in the crime he committed, but he dismissed any thoughts of morality when he told himself: “Hateful it is; there is no hate in loving” (Shakespeare 240). Like so many other human beings Tarquin found a loophole for what he did so that he would not feel guilty about the crime he committed. Not only does Tarquin try to justify his actions, but he flat out refuses to take responsibility, by blaming what he did on Lucrece’s beauty as J Hart observes, “The actual rape shows Tarquin trying to narrativize this brutal action and to displace the responsibility and guilt for it on to Lucrece (477-672)” (Hart 6). Tarquin, like most people is not proud of himself when the reality of what he has done set in, and whatever good that resides in him disappears as he blames his actions on the magnificent beauty of Lucrece. Finally, Shakespeare calls to mind how evil festers, growing like a bacteria or parasite, through the silence of the victims as Lucrece yearns to have her eyes desire “To have their unseen sin remain untold" (Shakespeare 753). When no one speaks out against evil, there is nothing to bar its way from continuing to spread and continuing to snuff out the souls the good people of the world. In the dark of night whatever good subsists in the world will fade, but at the same time, there remains hope for the blameless people that survive the night as renewal begins with the coming of the day.
In addition to analyzing how evil seeks to corrupt the goodness in the world, Shakespeare surveys the concept of morality, particularly what can get in the way of making the correct moral choices and how morality can alter a person’s perception and decisions. Shakespeare points out near the beginning of the story that beauty can overtake a man’s will and blind in his pursuing it, him by writing “Beauty itself doth of itself persuade, the eyes of men without an orator” (Shakespeare 29-31). Silently, beauty calls to a man, and makes him set aside all cares about morality in his efforts to obtain that beauty for himself. Tarquin may stand ensnared by Lucrece’s lure, but Lucrece herself does not return the feeling which is captured in the analysis of Anthony Julius, who writes: “Partly because love is not amenable to reason, and partly because the lover wishes his beloved to respond to him with the same unconditional, unpondered commitment as he himself shows, love” (Julius 21). Not only are men ensnared by this beauty but they foolishly expect this love back from the person they love, leading to hasty decisions as he blindly pursues what he thinks is his. Now in addition to looking at how morality can be disregarded in the pursuit of love, Shakespeare point out how a deeply engrained moral code can halt a person’s decisions through the thoughts of Tarquin: “What win I if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week? Or sells eternity to get a toy?” (Shakespeare 211-217). The concept of hell and damnation, represents the common fear in humanity of what comes as a consequence of doing something wrong and this fear can prevent people from making decisions they normally would have made. Now, unlike most reasonable human beings, Tarquin will not be daunted by the threat of damnation which J Hart deduces in his writing “Tarquin's stories within his interior monologue demonstrate complex narrative techniques (181-357). In a similitudo (omoeosis or similitude between two different things), as if to ground his emblem of lust, he likens how he will rape Lucrece to the striking of a flint to begin a fire.” From this statement it is logical to infer that even the threat of damnation will not deter Tarquin because the burning of his desire is consuming him; likening this action to starting a fire further emphasizes the burning of this desire” (Hart 4). Not only does Shakespeare analyze the concept of hell in relation to morality but he uses the metaphor for the conscience by having Tarquin speak with the angel and devil on his shoulder as he says “Then Love and Fortune be my gods, my guide! My will is back’d with resolution: Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried; The blackest sin is clear’d with absolution; Against love’s fire fear’s frost hath dissolution. The eye of heaven is out, and misty night Covers the shame that follows sweet delight” (Shakespeare 352-358). The conscience is the foundation of morality, affecting every decision that a person makes, and by his choices, it is evident that Tarquin’s repeated going against his conscience and his burning desire for Lucrece corroded his conscience to the point where he chose the “devil” on his shoulder. The morality of a person affects not only himself, but other people both directly and indirectly.
Lastly, one of the most important topics that Shakespeare addresses with his writing is the politics of Rome concerning rape and sexuality.
Foremost, Shakespeare sheds light on the male dominance in Roman society once again through Tarquin’s thoughts, specifically: “Perchance his boast of Lucrece’ sovereignty Suggested this proud issue of a king; For by our ears our hearts oft tainted be: Perchance that envy of so rich a thing” (Shakespeare 37-42). The men in Roman society dominate both politically and socially, and for a man to possess or dominate a woman of such beauty would no doubt garner respect and envy from lesser men. In terms of rape, male dominance is very hard on the woman of society, to the point where the women feel more shame in the end for rape than the man, which Julius points out, “Fearful of losing her reputation, and injuring her husband's, she submits to Tarquin's rape. Raped in silence, silenced by her rapist, she later kills herself, thereby retreating into a permanent silence, though only after she has denounced Tarquin to husband and friends” (Julius 14). It is not fair in any way that the victim should fear judgement more than the criminal and by drawing Lucrece’s emotions and her desire to kill herself, Shakespeare attempts to communicate that this element of Roman society lacks justice. It is not just this element of Roman society that is unjust, but the sense of entitlement that men back in the day felt that lead to additional problems ,which is best described in lines 134-138 “Those that much covet are with gain so fond, For what they have not, that which they possess They scatter and unloose it from their bond, And so, by hoping more, they have but less; Or, gaining more, the profit of excess” (Shakesperae 134-138). Tarquin is a wealthy landowner and has anything he could ever want, except Lucrece, and when he could not get her at first he lusted for her even more, eventually driving himself Finto the crime he committed. This
entitlement goes beyond that, and while Shakespeare does address this as the poem continues, a series of analytical questions by Joost Daalder: “One's conventional reaction may be to think that "the fault" is Tarquin's. But if that is so, why does Lucrece think that she should speak few words about it? And, given that she does not specify whose fault she is referring to, does she see it as her own?” (Daalder 4). Lucrece feels that she is to blame for what happened; she would not be feeling this way, however, if this feeling of entitlement did not exist in society, the same feeling of entitlement which pushed Tarquin over the edge. In addition to the male dominance and the sense of entitlement the final flaw that Shakespeare addresses in his writing is the skewed perception of who is to blame for rape; the poem hints at this by list everything that Tarquin wills to disregard including: “His all-too-timeless speed, if none of those; His honour, his affairs, his friends, his state, Neglected all, with swift intent he goes To quench the coal which in his liver glows” (Shakespeare 44-49). Although he would lose all of this if he was punished, Tarquin disregards all of this because he knows that in the end, the person who will receive the most shame is Lucrece and because of that he feels no detectable sorrow in losing his honour and friends in his quest for “love”. The criticisms of Roman society of the day by Shakespeare represent the historical significance of this revised legend, as it gives clear insight into how women, rape, and sexuality were viewed in the time of the Roman Empire.
Although Lucrece and Tarquin may never have lived, the dilemmas that their story presents are very tangible and alive in the world today. Evil still seeks to snuff out the “candles of light in the world” so to speak by corrupting the frail innocent of the world. In addition, humanity struggles every day to make the right moral decisions and not let things like emotions get in the way of intelligent and coherent decisions. While the Roman Empire itself may not be alive, the legacy it plowed still needs to be examined so that items of concern, such as the male dominance in society are not overlooked by future generations. In a mere 1855 lines Shakespeare is able to highlight some of the deepest struggles of humanity that must be dealt with, in order to ensure the success of the progeny of the current generation.
of this story, especially the viewing of sexuality and rape. Through his use of eloquent language, Shakespeare explores some of the darker aspects of the human subconscious and the unjust social customs of one of the greatest empires in the history of mankind.
First and foremost, Shakespeare conveys his message of the righteous in the world being trampled by the evil that subsists through his use of literary devices. In lines 25-28 Shakespeare likens Lucrece to beauty and honor with the words: “Against the golden splendour of the sun; Anexpir’d date, cancell’d ere well begun: Honour and beauty, in the owner’s arms, Are weakly fortress’d from a world of harms” (Shakespeare 25-28). Lucrece’s morally upright character shone in the light of the sun since she only gave of herself exclusively to her husband; when night fell however, evil stained the clean soul that Lucrece possesses. Forts can hide purity away from the world, but they can also entrap it as stated by the McAllisters: “Lucrece now imagines her defiled body a ‘blemish'd fort’ from which she longs to free her tormented soul” (Riley, Dick, and Pam McAllister 3). Lucrece’s morals led her to see the horror that had occurred for the sin that it is, and as a result, she feels she has become a blemished individual analogous to Tarquin. Originally, Tarquin did not want to partake in the crime he committed, but he dismissed any thoughts of morality when he told himself: “Hateful it is; there is no hate in loving” (Shakespeare 240). Like so many other human beings Tarquin found a loophole for what he did so that he would not feel guilty about the crime he committed. Not only does Tarquin try to justify his actions, but he flat out refuses to take responsibility, by blaming what he did on Lucrece’s beauty as J Hart observes, “The actual rape shows Tarquin trying to narrativize this brutal action and to displace the responsibility and guilt for it on to Lucrece (477-672)” (Hart 6). Tarquin, like most people is not proud of himself when the reality of what he has done set in, and whatever good that resides in him disappears as he blames his actions on the magnificent beauty of Lucrece. Finally, Shakespeare calls to mind how evil festers, growing like a bacteria or parasite, through the silence of the victims as Lucrece yearns to have her eyes desire “To have their unseen sin remain untold" (Shakespeare 753). When no one speaks out against evil, there is nothing to bar its way from continuing to spread and continuing to snuff out the souls the good people of the world. In the dark of night whatever good subsists in the world will fade, but at the same time, there remains hope for the blameless people that survive the night as renewal begins with the coming of the day.
In addition to analyzing how evil seeks to corrupt the goodness in the world, Shakespeare surveys the concept of morality, particularly what can get in the way of making the correct moral choices and how morality can alter a person’s perception and decisions. Shakespeare points out near the beginning of the story that beauty can overtake a man’s will and blind in his pursuing it, him by writing “Beauty itself doth of itself persuade, the eyes of men without an orator” (Shakespeare 29-31). Silently, beauty calls to a man, and makes him set aside all cares about morality in his efforts to obtain that beauty for himself. Tarquin may stand ensnared by Lucrece’s lure, but Lucrece herself does not return the feeling which is captured in the analysis of Anthony Julius, who writes: “Partly because love is not amenable to reason, and partly because the lover wishes his beloved to respond to him with the same unconditional, unpondered commitment as he himself shows, love” (Julius 21). Not only are men ensnared by this beauty but they foolishly expect this love back from the person they love, leading to hasty decisions as he blindly pursues what he thinks is his. Now in addition to looking at how morality can be disregarded in the pursuit of love, Shakespeare point out how a deeply engrained moral code can halt a person’s decisions through the thoughts of Tarquin: “What win I if I gain the thing I seek? A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy. Who buys a minute’s mirth to wail a week? Or sells eternity to get a toy?” (Shakespeare 211-217). The concept of hell and damnation, represents the common fear in humanity of what comes as a consequence of doing something wrong and this fear can prevent people from making decisions they normally would have made. Now, unlike most reasonable human beings, Tarquin will not be daunted by the threat of damnation which J Hart deduces in his writing “Tarquin's stories within his interior monologue demonstrate complex narrative techniques (181-357). In a similitudo (omoeosis or similitude between two different things), as if to ground his emblem of lust, he likens how he will rape Lucrece to the striking of a flint to begin a fire.” From this statement it is logical to infer that even the threat of damnation will not deter Tarquin because the burning of his desire is consuming him; likening this action to starting a fire further emphasizes the burning of this desire” (Hart 4). Not only does Shakespeare analyze the concept of hell in relation to morality but he uses the metaphor for the conscience by having Tarquin speak with the angel and devil on his shoulder as he says “Then Love and Fortune be my gods, my guide! My will is back’d with resolution: Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried; The blackest sin is clear’d with absolution; Against love’s fire fear’s frost hath dissolution. The eye of heaven is out, and misty night Covers the shame that follows sweet delight” (Shakespeare 352-358). The conscience is the foundation of morality, affecting every decision that a person makes, and by his choices, it is evident that Tarquin’s repeated going against his conscience and his burning desire for Lucrece corroded his conscience to the point where he chose the “devil” on his shoulder. The morality of a person affects not only himself, but other people both directly and indirectly.
Lastly, one of the most important topics that Shakespeare addresses with his writing is the politics of Rome concerning rape and sexuality.
Foremost, Shakespeare sheds light on the male dominance in Roman society once again through Tarquin’s thoughts, specifically: “Perchance his boast of Lucrece’ sovereignty Suggested this proud issue of a king; For by our ears our hearts oft tainted be: Perchance that envy of so rich a thing” (Shakespeare 37-42). The men in Roman society dominate both politically and socially, and for a man to possess or dominate a woman of such beauty would no doubt garner respect and envy from lesser men. In terms of rape, male dominance is very hard on the woman of society, to the point where the women feel more shame in the end for rape than the man, which Julius points out, “Fearful of losing her reputation, and injuring her husband's, she submits to Tarquin's rape. Raped in silence, silenced by her rapist, she later kills herself, thereby retreating into a permanent silence, though only after she has denounced Tarquin to husband and friends” (Julius 14). It is not fair in any way that the victim should fear judgement more than the criminal and by drawing Lucrece’s emotions and her desire to kill herself, Shakespeare attempts to communicate that this element of Roman society lacks justice. It is not just this element of Roman society that is unjust, but the sense of entitlement that men back in the day felt that lead to additional problems ,which is best described in lines 134-138 “Those that much covet are with gain so fond, For what they have not, that which they possess They scatter and unloose it from their bond, And so, by hoping more, they have but less; Or, gaining more, the profit of excess” (Shakesperae 134-138). Tarquin is a wealthy landowner and has anything he could ever want, except Lucrece, and when he could not get her at first he lusted for her even more, eventually driving himself Finto the crime he committed. This
entitlement goes beyond that, and while Shakespeare does address this as the poem continues, a series of analytical questions by Joost Daalder: “One's conventional reaction may be to think that "the fault" is Tarquin's. But if that is so, why does Lucrece think that she should speak few words about it? And, given that she does not specify whose fault she is referring to, does she see it as her own?” (Daalder 4). Lucrece feels that she is to blame for what happened; she would not be feeling this way, however, if this feeling of entitlement did not exist in society, the same feeling of entitlement which pushed Tarquin over the edge. In addition to the male dominance and the sense of entitlement the final flaw that Shakespeare addresses in his writing is the skewed perception of who is to blame for rape; the poem hints at this by list everything that Tarquin wills to disregard including: “His all-too-timeless speed, if none of those; His honour, his affairs, his friends, his state, Neglected all, with swift intent he goes To quench the coal which in his liver glows” (Shakespeare 44-49). Although he would lose all of this if he was punished, Tarquin disregards all of this because he knows that in the end, the person who will receive the most shame is Lucrece and because of that he feels no detectable sorrow in losing his honour and friends in his quest for “love”. The criticisms of Roman society of the day by Shakespeare represent the historical significance of this revised legend, as it gives clear insight into how women, rape, and sexuality were viewed in the time of the Roman Empire.
Although Lucrece and Tarquin may never have lived, the dilemmas that their story presents are very tangible and alive in the world today. Evil still seeks to snuff out the “candles of light in the world” so to speak by corrupting the frail innocent of the world. In addition, humanity struggles every day to make the right moral decisions and not let things like emotions get in the way of intelligent and coherent decisions. While the Roman Empire itself may not be alive, the legacy it plowed still needs to be examined so that items of concern, such as the male dominance in society are not overlooked by future generations. In a mere 1855 lines Shakespeare is able to highlight some of the deepest struggles of humanity that must be dealt with, in order to ensure the success of the progeny of the current generation.