Blake Campbell

Robert Mckeachie
LBST 2101 204
March 18, 2014
Gender in the Rape of Lucretia
From the very beginning of Rape of Lucretia, women are praised by their virtue and
loyalty to their husbands. This was exemplified through the dinner of the young men with each
man praising his wife (57). When the men put the women to the test by checking up on them,
the men were impressed by Lucretias chase honor (57). The men treasured women who
stayed sexually loyal to their husband and because of the innocence shown by Lucretia, she was
deemed a worthy women. The very act of comparing ones wives shows that the men judge
one another based on the control over their wife. Lucretia was the ideal women in the eyes of
Roman society because of her virtue and dedication of having sexual relations with her husband
alone.
Through the example of Lucretia, we see that a womens honor is more important than
her life when Sextus Tarquinius attempts to rape her. Even with a sword at her chest, she is
willing to die before she has sex with another man. It was not until Sextus threatened to
portray her death as a dishonorable act of adultery, that Lucretia was forced to comply.
Lucretia knew her honor was the most important thing to her husband and to all Roman society
(58). If her death was seen as dishonorable act of adultery, then it would be for nothing. She
wanted to die to preserve herself from losing her honor. Through Lucretias intentions, we can
infer that sexual loyalty is all that matters to women.
Lucretia was definitely not against the idea of being loyal to the husband. The
expectations set by the men were also reinforced by the women. Lucretia told her husband that
no women would be happy about losing her honor (58). Because this honor was so important
to the women, Lucretia wanted to make sure that the women of the community did not use her
as an example of dishonor (58). Lucretia took the rape as her fault and feared for her own
public image. Even though her husband and father said, She did no wrong Lucretia did not
only care for their acceptance, but also the Roman society. Lucretia had no choice but to
commit suicide to show the world that she was against the rape. She said, I will not free myself
of punishment (58). The suicide was the only way she thought would preserve her honor as a
women.
The rape of Lucretia cam also be seen as a threat toward Conlantinuss manhood. As a
man it was his duty to control/dominate his wife. Because another man has had control over
her there is also shame in the man. Lucretia says to Conlantinus that, it is your responsibility
(58). It was his responsibility to bring Sextus to justice. Lucretia reinforces the duty of the man
by telling him to pursue Sextus if you are a real man (58). Lucretia believes she has brought
dishonor to herself and to her husband. The only way to save this honor is for her to commit
suicide and for him to catch Sextus.
Even today we discourage women to have more than one sexual partner at a time. This
is due to the man dominant society that closely mirrors Roman society. Men want a loyal
women with himself still being able to sleep around. Men are actually praised for having
more than one sexual partner and women who are condemned for the same practice.