Stanza 185 - Explanation

Original Stanza

“Go, get me hither paper, ink, and pen.
Yet save that labour, for I have them here.
What should I say?—One of my husband’s men
Bid thou be ready by and by to bear
A letter to my lord, my love, my dear.
Bid him with speed prepare to carry it;
The cause craves haste, and it will soon be writ.”

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Okay, let's break down Stanza 185 of Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece.

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "Go, get me hither paper, ink, and pen."

  • Meaning: Lucrece, in her distress after being raped by Tarquin, initially commands a servant to fetch writing materials. "Hither" is an archaic word meaning "here."
  • Literary Devices: Imperative mood (a command) emphasizes her agitation and decisiveness.

• "Yet save that labour, for I have them here."

  • Meaning: She immediately countermands the order, realizing that the writing materials are already at hand.
  • Literary Devices: Apostrophe: she is speaking to the unmentioned servant Irony: It highlights the immediacy of her situation. She's so distraught that she momentarily forgets the basic necessities already around her.

• "What should I say?—One of my husband’s men"

  • Meaning: She pauses, lost in thought and struggling to formulate the message she wants to convey. She is considering sending one of her husband's servants
  • Literary Devices: Rhetorical Question: "What should I say?" shows her internal turmoil and the difficulty of choosing the right words to describe the unspeakable.

• "Bid thou be ready by and by to bear"

  • Meaning: She instructs the servant to tell one of her husband's men to be ready very soon (by and by) to carry something.
  • Literary Devices: archaic diction ("Bid thou")

• "A letter to my lord, my love, my dear."

  • Meaning: The 'something' that is to be carried is revealed to be a letter to her husband, Collatine. Note the progression of endearments: "lord" (respect), "love" (affection), "dear" (deep emotional connection).
  • Literary Devices: Epiphet: "my lord, my love, my dear." It reflects the depth of her affection for him, which contrasts starkly with Tarquin's violation.

• "Bid him with speed prepare to carry it;"

  • Meaning: She repeats the instruction that the servant must be ready to depart quickly.
  • Literary Devices: Repetition: "Bid him" further emphasizes the need for urgency.

• "The cause craves haste, and it will soon be writ."

  • Meaning: The gravity of the situation demands immediate action, and the letter will be composed quickly.
  • Literary Devices: Understatement: The "cause" is not just some minor matter, but her rape. The need for "haste" underscores the urgency of seeking retribution.

Overall Meaning of the Stanza:

This stanza portrays Lucrece's immediate response to the trauma of her rape. She is determined to inform her husband and seek justice. The stanza reveals:

• Her decisive action: She wastes no time in formulating a plan. She immediately thinks of contacting her husband.
• Her internal turmoil: Despite her decisiveness, the rhetorical question reveals her struggle to articulate the horror of what has happened.
• Her love for her husband: The endearments she uses to refer to Collatine highlight the depth of her connection to him, making Tarquin's act all the more heinous.
• The urgency of the situation: The repetition of "bid" and the emphasis on "haste" underscore the need for immediate action. She understands the gravity of her situation and is intent on addressing it swiftly.

The stanza effectively conveys Lucrece's emotional state—a mix of grief, determination, and a burning desire for justice. Shakespeare uses language and literary devices to create a vivid picture of a woman grappling with the aftermath of a horrific crime.