Stanza 44 - Explanation

Original Stanza

The locks between her chamber and his will,
Each one by him enforced, retires his ward;
But, as they open, they all rate his ill,
Which drives the creeping thief to some regard:
The threshold grates the door to have him heard;
Night-wandering weasels shriek to see him there;
They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Let's break down this stanza from Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece:

Part-by-Part Breakdown:

• "The locks between her chamber and his will,"
  • "The locks": Literal locks on the doors, but also a metaphor representing barriers of chastity and privacy.
  • "between her chamber and his will": Highlights the physical space and the forceful intentions of Tarquin (his "will"). "Her chamber" represents Lucrece's sanctity and the area to be violated.
• "Each one by him enforced, retires his ward;"
  • "Each one": Referring to each lock.
  • "by him enforced": Tarquin is forcing the locks open (violent act).
  • "retires his ward": "Ward" refers to the locking mechanism (the part of the lock that is guarded) "Retires" means the locks are yielding.
• "But, as they open, they all rate his ill,"
  • "But, as they open": Transition as the locks are breached.
  • "they all rate his ill": The locks, personified, "rate" or condemn Tarquin's actions. The opening of the locks is a silent judgment.
  • Literary Device: Personification - Giving human qualities (judgment) to inanimate objects (locks).
• "Which drives the creeping thief to some regard:"
  • "Which": Refers to the silent condemnation of the locks opening.
  • "creeping thief": Tarquin is described as a "creeping thief" emphasizing his stealthy and dishonorable actions.
  • "to some regard": Forces him to consider the enormity of his actions. Though a pause, it will not stop him.
• "The threshold grates the door to have him heard;"
  • "The threshold grates": The threshold (the floor piece under the door) makes a grinding noise as Tarquin steps over it.
  • "the door to have him heard": The door's groaning sound seems to be warning or trying to alert someone.
  • Literary Device: Personification - The threshold is given a human quality.
• "Night-wandering weasels shriek to see him there;"
  • "Night-wandering weasels": Weasels, often seen as sly creatures, are here a symbol of the darkness of the night. They seem to be witnesses or observers of Tarquin's action.
  • "shriek to see him there": The weasels cry in terror at his presence, highlighting the darkness and the wrongness of what he's doing.
  • Literary Device: Symbolism - The weasels.
• "They fright him, yet he still pursues his fear."
  • "They fright him": The various omens and the judgmental surroundings are frightening him and are making him pause.
  • "yet he still pursues his fear": Despite the fear and foreboding, Tarquin persists in his lust. "His fear" could refer to either his apprehension about being discovered or to the fear that will lead to the act.
  • Literary Device: Paradox - He pursues his fear.

Overall Meaning:

This stanza portrays Tarquin's approach to Lucrece's chamber as a journey of transgression. The physical barriers (the locks) and the environment itself (threshold, weasels) are personified, turning into agents of condemnation and warning. The imagery paints a picture of stealth, violation, and a growing sense of the evil of Tarquin's intentions. Despite being aware of the sin he is committing, and the warning signals from the outside world, Tarquin pushes forward, compelled by his lust. The stanza emphasizes both the physical act of the break-in and the moral decay within Tarquin. The contrast of his internal desire to the external warnings makes this stanza very poignant.