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
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