Stanza 74 - Explanation

Original Stanza

'Lucrece,' quoth he,'this night I must enjoy thee:
If thou deny, then force must work my way,
For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee:
That done, some worthless slave of thine I'll slay,
To kill thine honour with thy life's decay;
And in thy dead arms do I mean to place him,
Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him.

🔍 Line-by-Line Analysis

Line-by-Line Breakdown:

• "Lucrece,' quoth he,'this night I must enjoy thee:"

  • Lucrece,: The direct address of Lucrece by Tarquin.
  • quoth he: An archaic way of saying "said he". It's a stylistic marker, giving the poem a sense of formality and distance.
  • this night I must enjoy thee: A direct and brutal declaration of Tarquin's intent. "Enjoy" is a euphemism, concealing the violent reality of rape. He is not asking, he is stating his intention. He asserts his perceived right to pleasure over Lucrece's body.

• "If thou deny, then force must work my way,"

  • If thou deny: Presents Lucrece with a false choice.
  • then force must work my way: Explicit threat of violence. The phrase "work my way" is chillingly detached, as if he's dealing with an obstacle rather than a human being. It further reinforces the power dynamic, where he sees Lucrece as something to be overcome.

• "For in thy bed I purpose to destroy thee:"

  • For in thy bed: Reinforces the violation he is planning and the intimate setting.
  • I purpose to destroy thee: The chilling statement of intent goes beyond simply "enjoying" her; it is about complete destruction, both physical and emotional. The word "purpose" implies premeditation and cold calculation.

• "That done, some worthless slave of thine I'll slay,"

  • That done: A cold, almost business-like transition to the next phase of his plan.
  • some worthless slave of thine I'll slay: A threat to frame Lucrece and further defile her reputation. The phrase "worthless slave" highlights the social hierarchy and Tarquin's belief in his own superiority, granting him the power to dispose of others as he pleases.

• "To kill thine honour with thy life's decay;"

  • To kill thine honour with thy life's decay: This connects the physical act of rape to the destruction of Lucrece's reputation ("honour"). "Life's decay" refers to both the physical ruin caused by the rape and the social ruin that will follow. It highlights the importance of chastity and reputation in the patriarchal society of the time.

• "And in thy dead arms do I mean to place him,"

  • And in thy dead arms: This image is grotesque and further emphasizes the total lack of respect Tarquin has for Lucrece.
  • do I mean to place him: Reinforces the premeditation, and how deeply thought out his plan is.

• "Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him."

  • Swearing I slew him, seeing thee embrace him: This is the final, devastating stroke. Tarquin plans to lie, claiming he killed the slave in a fit of jealous rage after catching Lucrece with him. This would completely destroy her reputation and leave her with no recourse. It ensures she will be seen as an adulteress, not a victim of rape.

Overall Meaning of the Stanza:

This stanza is a chilling depiction of Tarquin's depravity and the extent of his evil plan. It reveals that his motivation is not just lust but also a desire to utterly destroy Lucrece's honor and reputation. He lays out his plan with cold, calculated precision, showcasing his ruthlessness and disregard for human life. The stanza highlights the vulnerability of women in a patriarchal society, where their worth is often tied to their chastity and reputation, and how easily these things can be taken from them. It emphasizes the importance of honor, reputation, and the devastating consequences of their loss.

Literary Devices:

• Euphemism: "Enjoy" masks the violent nature of the intended rape.
• Imagery: The image of Lucrece with the dead slave in her arms is powerful and disturbing.
• Irony: Tarquin speaks of honor while simultaneously planning to commit a dishonorable act.
• Repetition/Emphasis: "I must," "I purpose," "I mean" all underscore Tarquin's deliberate and resolute intentions.
• Threat/Violence: The entire stanza is built on the threat of physical and social violence.
• Diction: The formal and archaic language ("quoth," "thine") creates a sense of distance and elevates the scene to a level of tragic grandeur. The contrast between this formality and the brutal content is unsettling.
• Alliteration: Possible example could be "life's decay", which emphasizes the corruption of Lucrece's honor.
• Assonance: Possible example could be "slay" and "place", which links together Tarquin's actions and how they will contribute to Lucrece's demise.
• Dramatic Irony: The reader knows that Lucrece will not submit and that this will lead to her ultimate tragedy.

This stanza is a pivotal moment in the poem, setting the stage for the tragic events that follow. It underscores the power imbalance between Tarquin and Lucrece and the devastating consequences of his actions.