Stanza 224 - Explanation

Original Stanza

Here, all enraged, such passion her assails,
That patience is quite beaten from her breast.
She tears the senseless Sinon with her nails,
Comparing him to that unhappy guest
Whose deed hath made herself herself detest.
At last she smilingly with this gives o’er;
“Fool, fool!” quoth she, “his wounds will not be sore.”

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Okay, let's break down Stanza 224 of Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece:

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "Here, all enraged, such passion her assails,"

  • Meaning: Lucrece, confronted with the image of Sinon, is overwhelmed by intense anger and emotions. The word "passion" here signifies intense suffering and feeling, more than just happiness or love. The word "assails" is a military term, suggesting the emotions are attacking and overpowering her.
  • Literary Devices: Personification (passion "assails" her, as if it were an attacker)

• "That patience is quite beaten from her breast."

  • Meaning: Lucrece loses all composure and control. Her ability to endure the situation calmly is completely destroyed.
  • Literary Devices: Metaphor (patience is personified as something that can be "beaten" and driven away).

• "She tears the senseless Sinon with her nails,"

  • Meaning: She attacks the tapestry or painting of Sinon, tearing at it with her fingernails. Sinon is referred to as "senseless" because he is not real but an image. This physical action reflects her inner turmoil.
  • Literary Devices: Imagery (vivid picture of her violent act).

• "Comparing him to that unhappy guest"

  • Meaning: She equates Sinon with Tarquin, who has violated her. She identifies them as similar in their deceitful and destructive nature.
  • Literary Devices: Simile/Analogy (Comparing Sinon to Tarquin).

• "Whose deed hath made herself herself detest."

  • Meaning: Tarquin's act (the rape) has caused Lucrece to despise herself. She feels tainted and responsible somehow for what happened. It highlights the deep shame and self-loathing she experiences.
  • Literary Devices: Repetition (herself herself) to emphasize the intensity of her self-hatred.

• "At last she smilingly with this gives o’er;"

  • Meaning: Finally, she stops tearing at the image, seemingly with a faint smile. This smile is probably one of bitter irony or even bordering on madness, not genuine happiness. She gives over/stops the physical violence.
  • Literary Devices: Oxymoron (smilingly with the previous emotions of rage). Juxtaposition of intense emotion and this seemingly strange calmness or ironic acceptance.

• "'Fool, fool!' quoth she, 'his wounds will not be sore.'"

  • Meaning: She dismisses the fact that she's tearing at the tapestry of Sinon, recognizing that it won't actually hurt him or Tarquin, who she equates him with. She knows her physical actions are futile in addressing the real harm that has been done. The repetition of "Fool, fool!" emphasizes her frustration and self-awareness of the inadequacy of her actions.
  • Literary Devices: Apostrophe (addressing Sinon directly). Irony (she knows tearing the image is meaningless, but does it anyway). Repetition "Fool, fool" (highlights her inner turmoil).

Overall Meaning:

This stanza portrays Lucrece's overwhelming rage and despair after the rape. She channels her emotions into a physical attack on the image of Sinon, whom she equates with Tarquin and all that he represents. The act of tearing the tapestry is symbolic of her desire to strike back at her attacker. However, she ultimately realizes the futility of her actions, and her fleeting, almost mad smile and ironic exclamation emphasize the depth of her despair. The stanza explores the themes of rage, shame, self-hatred, and the inadequacy of physical revenge against the profound psychological damage she has suffered. The stanza highlights the internal conflict she is facing. Her actions are a manifestation of her helplessness and the crushing weight of her shame.