by
First published 2018
This public domain edition preserves Shakespeare's narrative poem "The Rape of Lucrece" for contemporary audiences. Lucrece, a virtuous Roman noblewoman, becomes the target of Tarquin's violent assault while her husband is away at war. The poem follows her internal struggle as she grapples with shame, honor, and the consequences of another's crime against her body and reputation. Shakespeare explores the psychological aftermath of sexual violence through Lucrece's tormented deliberations about duty, family honor, and personal agency. Her story builds toward a tragic resolution that will reshape Roman history. The work examines how individual trauma intersects with political power and social expectations. Scholars have recognized this text as culturally significant, warranting preservation and continued circulation. This edition maintains the original's visual elements while updating the typography for accessibility. The poem reveals Shakespeare's early mastery of narrative verse and his ability to render complex emotional states through formal poetic structures.
Genres: classic-literature, historical-fiction, tragedy, poetry
Vibes: dark, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: tragedy, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Rome
Period: Ancient
152 pages · Print on Demand · Franklin Classics Trade Press
Content warnings: rape, sexual-assault, violence