The Rape of Lucrece

“The Rape of Lucrece” is deeply concerned with the (biological) female body. It is described using monetary terms and holds the (corrupted) power of beauty. Lucrece’s body, though abused, is also responsible for banishing royalty and, ultimately, the downfall of the monarchy.

The diction of stealing—specifically hoarding treasure—categorizes Tarquin’s abuse. In the third stanza, Collantine’s descriptions of Lucrece that inflame Tarquin utilize the language of wealth and ownership. Collantine speaks of “the treasure of his happy state, / What priceless wealth the heavens him had lent / In the possession of his beauteous mate, / Reck’ning his fortune” (Lines 16-19) when discussing Lucrece among the men at the encampment. When contemplating violence in his bedroom, Tarquin frames his thoughts with this lucrative imagery: “great treasure” is the prize he seeks (Line 132). After raping Lucrece, Tarquin is compared to a miser, who “coffers up his gold” but is too ill to enjoy it: “scarce hath eyes his treasure to behold” (Lines 855-857). Tarquin’s sin of adultery is a kind of greed; the figurative treasure of Lucrece’s body could be considered cursed gold because it ultimately causes Tarquin’s banishment.

Beauty is central to the descriptions of Lucrece (and her painted Trojan counterpart, Helen); is it what Tarquin blames for his uncontrollable lust.