Stanza 145 - Explanation

Original Stanza

'The crow may bathe his coal-black wings in mire,
And unperceived fly with the filth away;
But if the like the snow-white swan desire,
The stain upon his silver down will stay.
Poor grooms are sightless night, kings glorious day:
Gnats are unnoted wheresoe'er they fly,
But eagles gazed upon with every eye.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Okay, let's break down stanza 145 of Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece line by line, then synthesize the overall meaning and highlight the literary devices.

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "The crow may bathe his coal-black wings in mire,"

  • Literal Meaning: A crow can dip its black wings in mud (mire).
  • Figurative Meaning: A person of low status (implied moral "blackness") can engage in shameful actions (the mire) without much notice or consequence.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Symbolism: The crow symbolizes someone of low status or with a bad reputation. The mire symbolizes immoral or shameful actions.
    • Alliteration: "Coal-black" emphasizes the blackness of the crow.

• "And unperceived fly with the filth away;"

  • Literal Meaning: The crow can fly away with the mud unnoticed.
  • Figurative Meaning: The actions of a person of low status, even if dirty, are easily overlooked or forgiven. They escape scrutiny.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Imagery: Creates a visual of the crow escaping unnoticed.

• "But if the like the snow-white swan desire,"

  • Literal Meaning: But if the snow-white swan wants to do the same (bathe in mire).
  • Figurative Meaning: But if a person of high status (implied moral purity, like the swan) commits a shameful act.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Symbolism: The swan symbolizes someone of high status, purity, and reputation.
    • Contrast: Creates a direct contrast with the crow.
    • Alliteration: "Snow-white" emphasizes the purity of the swan.

• "The stain upon his silver down will stay."

  • Literal Meaning: The dirt/stain will remain on the swan's white feathers.
  • Figurative Meaning: The reputation of a person of high status will be permanently damaged by a shameful act. They cannot escape the consequences.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Imagery: Evokes a vivid image of the swan's soiled feathers.
    • Metaphor: "Silver down" metaphorically represents the swan's pure reputation.
    • Alliteration: "Stain" and "stay."

• "Poor grooms are sightless night, kings glorious day:"

  • Literal Meaning: Poor grooms are like a night unseen, Kings like the glorious day.
  • Figurative Meaning: The lives and actions of the poor and powerless are hidden and unnoticed, while the lives and actions of the powerful (kings) are visible to all.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Metaphor: Compares grooms and kings to night and day respectively, highlighting their differing visibility and importance.
    • Parallelism: Creates balance and reinforces the contrast.
    • Alliteration: "kings" and "glorious"

• "Gnats are unnoted wheresoe'er they fly,"

  • Literal Meaning: Gnats (small, insignificant insects) go unnoticed wherever they fly.
  • Figurative Meaning: The actions of unimportant people are disregarded.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Metaphor: Gnats represent insignificant people.

• "But eagles gazed upon with every eye."

  • Literal Meaning: Eagles (large, impressive birds) are watched by everyone.
  • Figurative Meaning: The actions of powerful or important people are constantly scrutinized and judged.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Metaphor: Eagles represent powerful/important people.
    • Hyperbole: "Every eye" exaggerates the level of scrutiny.
    • Contrast: Again, reinforces the difference between the treatment of those of high and low status.

Overall Meaning:

The stanza conveys the idea that social status significantly affects how actions are perceived and judged. People of low status can commit shameful acts without much notice, but people of high status are held to a much higher standard. Their actions, good or bad, are magnified, and any transgression leaves a lasting stain on their reputation. The stanza highlights the unfairness of the situation. It emphasizes that those in power are subject to greater scrutiny, and thus, greater consequences for their misdeeds. This applies directly to Lucrece's situation; because of her high social standing and virtuous reputation, her rape and subsequent suicide have a much greater impact than if she were a commoner. It foreshadows the political upheaval that will result from Tarquin's crime.

Key Literary Devices Recap:

• Symbolism: Crow, Swan, Mire, Night, Day, Gnats, Eagles all symbolize social status, moral character, and visibility.
• Metaphor: Using images of birds, insects, and natural phenomena to represent human characters and their actions.
• Contrast: The stanza relies heavily on contrasting imagery (crow/swan, night/day, gnats/eagles) to emphasize the different treatment of people based on their social status.
• Alliteration: "Coal-black," "snow-white," "stain/stay" creates emphasis and musicality.
• Hyperbole: "Every eye" exaggerates the scrutiny given to those of high status.
• Imagery: Vivid descriptions that appeal to the senses (especially sight) to create a lasting impression.

This stanza is a powerful commentary on social dynamics, reputation, and the burdens and responsibilities that come with high status. It is also a direct reflection on Lucrece’s plight as a high-born woman who is forever shamed by Tarquin's actions.