Stanza 121 - Explanation

Original Stanza

'Yet am I guilty of thy honour's wrack;
Yet for thy honour did I entertain him;
Coming from thee, I could not put him back,
For it had been dishonour to disdain him:
Besides, of weariness he did complain him,
And talk'd of virtue: O unlook'd-for evil,
When virtue is profaned in such a devil!

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Okay, let's break down Stanza 121 from Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece:

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "Yet am I guilty of thy honour's wrack;"

  • "Yet": Indicates a continuation of thought, even a contradiction or twist on what came before.
  • "I": Lucrece is speaking (or, more accurately, her internal monologue is being presented).
  • "guilty of thy honour's wrack": She feels responsible for the destruction ("wrack") of her husband's honor ("thy honour"). The word "wrack" suggests a violent shattering.
  • Literary Device: Alliteration: The 'wr' sound emphasizes the violence and destruction.

• "Yet for thy honour did I entertain him;"

  • "Yet": Again, a contrast.
  • "for thy honour": Intended to uphold or show respect for her husband's honor.
  • "did I entertain him": She offered Collatine's friend, Tarquin, hospitality as a guest.
  • Literary Device: Irony: Her intention to protect her husband's honor is precisely what led to its destruction.

• "Coming from thee, I could not put him back,"

  • "Coming from thee": Because Tarquin was a messenger or friend from her husband (Collatine).
  • "I could not put him back": She felt obliged to welcome him because of his connection to Collatine. She felt it would be rude to turn away someone he had sent.
  • Literary Device: Reason/Justification: Lucrece explains why she allowed Tarquin to enter.

• "For it had been dishonour to disdain him:"

  • "For it had been dishonour": It would have been considered impolite or a breach of hospitality to reject him.
  • "to disdain him": To reject or treat him with contempt.
  • Literary Device: Repetition/Parallelism: Reinforces the importance of honor and appearance in the social context.

• "Besides, of weariness he did complain him,"

  • "Besides": In addition to the obligation of hospitality.
  • "of weariness he did complain him": Tarquin claimed to be tired from his journey. The archaic phrasing "complain him" suggests he was vocal about his exhaustion.
  • Literary Device: Characterization: Shows Tarquin's manipulative behavior, using fatigue as a way to gain sympathy and entry.

• "And talk'd of virtue: O unlook'd-for evil,"

  • "And talk'd of virtue": Tarquin deceptively spoke of virtuous principles and values.
  • "O unlook'd-for evil": An exclamation expressing her shock and horror at the unexpected turn of events.
  • Literary Device: Juxtaposition/Contrast: The contrast between Tarquin's words ("virtue") and his actions ("evil") highlights the hypocrisy and treachery of his character.

• "When virtue is profaned in such a devil!"

  • "When virtue is profaned": When goodness is corrupted or desecrated.
  • "in such a devil!": By a person so evil and wicked (Tarquin). Lucrece is condemning Tarquin as a demonic figure.
  • Literary Device: Metaphor: Tarquin is likened to a "devil," emphasizing his inherent wickedness. Exclamation: Emphasizes Lucrece's horror.

Overall Meaning:

In this stanza, Lucrece is wrestling with her guilt and trying to understand how she became complicit in the events that led to her rape. She justifies her initial actions – entertaining Tarquin – by emphasizing the importance of honor, hospitality, and social obligations. She believed she was acting virtuously by showing kindness to a guest who claimed to be a friend of her husband. However, she now realizes that Tarquin's outward display of virtue was a deceptive mask for his evil intentions. The stanza expresses Lucrece's horror and despair at the realization that her well-intentioned actions have been manipulated and that virtue itself has been profaned by Tarquin's wickedness. She sees Tarquin as a devil, highlighting the depth of his depravity.

The stanza showcases the dangers of misplaced trust and the devastating consequences that can arise when appearances are deceiving. Lucrece is trapped in a situation where adherence to social norms and expectations ultimately led to the violation of her own honor.