The theme of rape in elizabethan and jacobean literary texts

Table of Contents

A. Introduction

I. Introduction into the topic

II. Aim of the present study and its position in current research

B. Definition of ‘rape’: narrowing of the term?

C. The notion of rape in antique, medieval and Renaissance times

I. Beliefs about rape in Antiquity: connection with honour

II. Medieval and Renaissance attitudes: rape as a theft of property

D. Literary forerunners: the “rape of Lucrece” in Antiquity and the Middle Ages

I. The “rape of Lucrece” in Antiquity

1. Political focus: Livy’s Ab Urbe Condita

2. The importance of the Roman calendar: Ovid’s Fasti

3. Roman myth for Greek readers: Dionysius Halicarnassos’ Antiquitates Romanae

II. The reception of the ancient myth of Lucrece in Christian and medieval literature

1. Lucrece as a self-murderer: St Augustine’s De Civitate Dei Contra Paganos

2. An unconscious Lucrece: Gower’s Confessio Amantis and Chaucer’s The Legend of Good Women

E. Different adaptations of the “rape of Lucrece” in the English Renaissance

I. William Shakespeare’s Lucrece

1. Structure of the text, context, reception history

2. Sources of Shakespeare’s adaptation

3. Textual analysis

a. Lucrece’s chastity: a virtue to be conquered

b. Tarquin’s lust: a double-edged sword

c. Description of the actual rape

d. Different ways of dealing with the rape

i. Lucrece’s different stages in her complaint and her subsequent suicide

ii. Tarquin: a troubled rapist

iii. Reactions of her husband, father and friends

e. Tarquin’s banishment: the “Argument” and the last stanza of the poem

II. Thomas Middleton’s The Ghost of Lucrece

1. Structure of the text, context, reception history

2. Sources of Middleton’s adaptation

3. Textual analysis

a. Lucrece: from chaste wife to lustful whore

b. Tarquin: a lecherous ghost in Hell

c. Reminiscences of the actual rape

d. Different ways of dealing with the rape

i. Lucrece’s raging complaint and the re-enactment of her suicide

ii. Tarquin the ghost: raping Lucrece a second time?

e. The dedication, the Latin text, the prologue and the epilogue

III. Thomas Heywood’s The Rape of Lucrece

1. Structure of the text, context, reception history

2. Sources of Heywood’s adaptation

3. Textual analysis

a. Lucrece’s chastity: a virtue also imposed on the household

b. Tarquin: a lecherous prince in an infected state

c. The dialogue leading up to the actual rape

d. Different ways of dealing with the rape

i. Lucrece’s complaint and her heroic suicide

ii. Tarquin: Remorseful rapist?

iii. Reactions of her husband, father and friends

e. The rape as a reason for heroic deeds and the slaughter of the Tarquins

F. Conclusion: comparative analysis of the three Renaissance texts

Objectives and Topics

This study aims to examine the theme of rape within the Elizabethan and Jacobean literary period, specifically focusing on William Shakespeare's Lucrece, Thomas Middleton's The Ghost of Lucrece, and Thomas Heywood's The Rape of Lucrece. By comparing these adaptations, the research explores how the myth of Lucrece was re-imagined by these authors to convey contemporary socio-political anxieties and gender ideologies, while also tracing the evolution of the concept of rape from Antiquity through the Renaissance.

• The historical and social perception of rape in the Renaissance period.
• The literary evolution of the Lucrece myth from classical and medieval sources to Renaissance adaptations.
• Feminist analysis of gender boundaries and the agency of the victim in the chosen texts.
• The representation of rape as a metaphor for political tyranny and power relations.
• The role of the rapist and the victim's reaction, including the implications of suicide as an act of resistance.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

A. Introduction: Outlines the research topic regarding the theme of rape in Renaissance literature and provides the historical context of the Lucrece myth.

B. Definition of ‘rape’: narrowing of the term?: Explores the etymological shift of the term 'rape' from its Latin root 'rapere' and its changing connotations throughout history.

C. The notion of rape in antique, medieval and Renaissance times: Examines how different societies viewed rape, specifically highlighting its perception as an affront to male honour or a property crime.

D. Literary forerunners: the “rape of Lucrece” in Antiquity and the Middle Ages: Analyzes the source materials including works by Livy, Ovid, St. Augustine, Gower, and Chaucer to understand the evolution of the narrative.

E. Different adaptations of the “rape of Lucrece” in the English Renaissance: Provides a detailed textual analysis of the specific works of Shakespeare, Middleton, and Heywood, focusing on their distinct narrative and stylistic choices.

F. Conclusion: comparative analysis of the three Renaissance texts: Synthesizes the findings by comparing how each author utilized the myth to reflect their unique socio-political and personal artistic aims.

Keywords

Renaissance, Lucrece, Rape, Shakespeare, Middleton, Heywood, Chastity, Honour, Gender Roles, Literary Sources, Antiquity, Patriarchy, Revenge, Narrative Adaptation, Roman Myth.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core focus of this research paper?

The paper investigates the representation of rape in English Renaissance literary texts, specifically exploring the works of William Shakespeare, Thomas Middleton, and Thomas Heywood.

What are the primary thematic areas covered?

The study covers the evolution of the Lucrece myth, the concepts of chastity and male honour, gender-based power dynamics, and the intersection of political allegory with personal violence.

What is the primary objective of this study?

The objective is to combine these three specific adaptations into a full-length study to analyze how these authors navigated feminist critiques and contemporary social conventions regarding sexual violence.

Which scientific methodology is applied?

The study employs a comparative literary approach, analyzing texts alongside their historical sources and the critical tradition of feminist and gender-oriented scholarship.

What does the main part of the paper address?

The main section provides in-depth textual analysis of each author’s work, examining themes such as Tarquin's motivations, Lucrece’s reactions and suicide, and the broader social implications of the rape.

Which keywords define this work?

Key terms include Renaissance, Lucrece, Rape, Shakespeare, Middleton, Heywood, chastity, honour, and gender roles.

How does the author characterize Middleton’s version of Lucrece?

The author describes Middleton’s Lucrece as a 'revenger-satirist' who is less the chaste victim found in traditional sources and more an active participant in exposing the corruption of society.

What is the political significance of Heywood’s adaptation?

Heywood's play is analyzed for its political undertones, drawing parallels between Tarquinian tyranny and the anxieties of the reign of King James I.