Stanza 203 - Explanation

Original Stanza

Here one man’s hand leaned on another’s head,
His nose being shadowed by his neighbour’s ear;
Here one being thronged bears back, all boll’n and red;
Another smothered seems to pelt and swear;
And in their rage such signs of rage they bear
As, but for loss of Nestor’s golden words,
It seemed they would debate with angry swords.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Okay, let's break down stanza 203 of Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece line by line, and then analyze its overall meaning and literary devices:

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "Here one man’s hand leaned on another’s head,"

  • Meaning: Describes a chaotic, crowded scene where people are physically pressed together. One man is so close to another that he's using the other's head for support, likely in a struggle. This emphasizes the lack of order and respect for personal space.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Imagery: Creates a vivid picture of the jostling crowd.

• "His nose being shadowed by his neighbour’s ear;"

  • Meaning: Continues the description of the crush. The men are packed so tightly that one man's nose is literally in the shadow of another's ear. It's a graphic and somewhat absurd image, emphasizing the claustrophobia and discomfort.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Imagery: Further reinforces the chaotic and claustrophobic scene.
    • Hyperbole: Exaggerates the closeness of the men.

• "Here one being thronged bears back, all boll’n and red;"

  • Meaning: Describes another individual being pushed back by the crowd, his face swollen ("boll'n") and flushed ("red") from the pressure and exertion. He's struggling against the force.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Imagery: The words "boll'n and red" vividly portray the physical effects of the crush, emphasizing the men's distress.
    • Alliteration: The repetition of the 'b' sound in "being," "bears," and "boll'n" subtly reinforces the idea of struggle and burden.

• "Another smothered seems to pelt and swear;"

  • Meaning: Another person is being suffocated by the crowd and is reacting by striking out ("pelt") and cursing ("swear"). He's trying to fight his way out of the suffocating press.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Imagery: The word "smothered" evokes a powerful sense of panic and desperation.
    • Onomatopoeia: The word "pelt" is partially onomatopoeic, suggesting the sound of hitting or struggling.

• "And in their rage such signs of rage they bear"

  • Meaning: Reinforces the idea that the people in the crowd are exhibiting clear signs of their anger and frustration. The repetition of "rage" emphasizes the intensity of their emotions.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Repetition: Emphasizes the overwhelming feeling of rage.

• "As, but for loss of Nestor’s golden words,"

  • Meaning: Introduces a hypothetical contrast. "Nestor" is a reference to the wise old counselor from Homer's Iliad. The line suggests that if they didn't lack Nestor's persuasive and calming eloquence (his "golden words"),...
  • Literary Devices:
    • Allusion: Refers to a figure known for his wisdom and ability to calm tempers.
    • Metaphor: "Golden words" is a metaphor for eloquent and persuasive speech.

• "It seemed they would debate with angry swords."

  • Meaning: ...then these men would have already resorted to violence. The chaos and fury are so intense that the only thing preventing a full-blown brawl is the absence of someone capable of reasoned discourse.
  • Literary Devices:
    • Synecdoche: "Swords" stands in for armed conflict or violence.

Overall Meaning of the Stanza:

The stanza depicts a scene of intense chaos and rising tension within a crowd. The physical discomfort, claustrophobia, and frustration have brought the men to the brink of violence. The allusion to Nestor highlights the importance of reason and eloquence in preventing conflict. Without a voice of reason to calm them, the men are ready to explode into a literal sword fight.

Key Themes and Observations:

• The Destructive Power of Uncontrolled Emotion: The stanza illustrates how pent-up frustration and rage can quickly escalate into violence.
• The Importance of Reason and Diplomacy: The allusion to Nestor emphasizes the need for wise counsel and persuasive communication to prevent conflict.
• The Physicality of Emotion: The stanza vividly portrays how emotional states manifest in physical ways (flushed faces, jostling, being smothered).
• Foreshadowing: Given the context of The Rape of Lucrece, this stanza can be seen as foreshadowing the larger conflict and violence that will erupt as a result of Tarquin's actions. It suggests the breakdown of social order and the potential for widespread chaos.