In reading both Lucrece and Venus and Adonis, I was struck with the uncanny wisdom and understanding of our Bard. A few brave souls in class have noted the sheer power of Shakespeare’s words, to ‘stir desire.’ Not unlike the Song of Solomon. You’d have to be made of stone to not feel the passion in Venus’ words:
“Touch but my lips with those fair lips of thine–
Though mine be not so fair, yet are they red–
The kiss shall be thine own as well as mine.
What seest thou in the ground? Hold up thy head,
Look in mine eyeballs, there thy beauty lies;
Then why not lips on lips, since eyes in eyes?” Her longing, so poignant.
And the beauty of the sleeping Lucrece, “Her eyes like marigolds had sheathed their light.”
Meaning, they were usually full of light, like the golden marigold, but closed like the flower closes with the setting sun.
‘Her hair like golden threads played with her breath.” Ever watch some one sleep? I used to love to watch my children sleep. I’d watch their chests rise and fall, the small tendrils of hair near their faces, damp with their breath. I’d watch, thinking about how much I loved them, about their emerging personalities, what miracles they were. There’s a softness, a tenderness when a person is unaware.
In this scene we nearly forget that Tarquin is a rapist. Shakespeare builds tension well when he describes this scene of vulnerability prior to the impending violence.
On desire? Shakespeare has much to say:
“The sea hath bounds,
but deep desire hath none…”
and on pg. 13,
“Things growing to themselves are growth’s abuse.”
Pg. 32 “Tears harden lust though marble wear with raining.” This is powerful. Since lust is selfish, the tears of the victim go unheard. Yet rain would wear down even hard marble, but not the conscience of the rapist. The comparison is extaordinary. I agree that Shakespeare would be involved with a Rape Crisis Center. His compassion is palpable.
And then, oh woe, the deed is done:
Pg. 34 “This said he puts his foot upon the light,
for light and lust are deadly enemies.”
Shame folded up in blind concealing night
When most unseen then most doth tyrannize.” Much evil is done under cover of darkness.
pg.36 Almost immediately Tarquin is convicted of his wrongdoing. “The sweets we wish for turn to loathed sours
Even in the moment that we call them ours.”
And the sorrow and shame of Lucrece…ahh…poor woman. I read with interest her desire to not be ‘at the mercy of grief.’ She knew that grief comes when it will, and she’d have no choice but to feel the sorrow and shame of being violated.
Pg. 39 “Grief best is pleased with grief’s society.
True sorrow then is feelingly sufficed
When with like semblance it is sympathized.
‘Tis double death to drown in ken of shore;
He ten times pines that pines beholding food;
To see the salve doth make the wound ache more;
Great grief grieves most at that would do it good;
Deep woes roll forward like a gentle flood,
Who being stopped, the bounding banks o’erflows;
Grief dalled with nor law nor limit knows.”
What does it mean? I think she knew that to truly get over something, you have to feel the loss. She did not want to live in that sorrow.
“Tis double death to drown in ken(sight) of shore.” This really gets me. Grief is a solitary business, and it can make one can feel like they are drowning even in the midst of people, work, school and ‘life as usual.’ She knows that grief is like a flood and must be allowed, or it will make you burst. But she does not want to live with the uncertainty of not knowing when the flood would roll in and take her away. I have a dear friend whose son killed himself years ago. She’d be at work sometimes when the grief would come like a wave. She’d go to the back room and collapse on the floor, sobbing out her anguish. When the wave had passed she’d stand up, dry her eyes and go back to work. Lucrece knew it would be so, and she didn’t want to live in that uncertainty, or the dishonor it would bring to her husband, and the looks of shame. While I do not agree with and am pierced by her choice to kill herself, I can surely understand her motives.
Another noteworthy point: The Bard distinguishes eloquently between love and lust, which MS said could be a nod to puritanism. Maybe, but I think there really is an important difference in that lust is selfish, and true love self-less.
Pg. 20
“Love comforteth like sunshine after rain
But lust’s effect is tempest after sun;
Love’s gentle spring doth always fresh remain,
Lust’s winter comes ere summer half be done.
Love surfeits not, lust like a glutton dies
Love is all truth, lust full of forged lies.”
Another note re: a common misconception. Catholics don’t worship Mary, at least not in the sense of true worship. They venerate Mary, which is respect and honor but falls short of worship. I did like our professor’s answer though, that people are drawn to Mary because she represents unconditional love. Yes, take that Martin Luther. Ha ha.
One final quote: “For looks kill love, and love by looks reviveth;
a smile recures the wounding of a frown.” Ever had someone shoot daggers at you? Or look on you with kindness? Such exacting words…sharper than a two-edged sword.
JenniferThornburg--wecrytodreamagain 