Unlike Shakespeare's other poem this one was all over the board in terms of the emotions and ideas it explored. With Venus and Adonis Shakespeare seems to focus on love, disinterest, and grief whereas this poem took on a far darker tone and explored some less appealing emotions and ideas.
I would like to start by exploring the idea of how beauty and passion are ultimately the reasons Tarquin does what he knows is wrong. Before he actually commits the volatile act that sets in motion the events of the latter half of the poem Tarquin goes through a bit of self exploration. Tarquin knows in the long run what his actions will bring about but is unable to halt the course to which his passion sets him. Lines 498-504 are a great example of this. Also i know this sounds horrible but if Lucrece hadn't been beautiful and Collantine hadn't praised her so i don't think Tarquin would been so inclined to commit the act he did.
Personally i found it a little daunting how much Lucrece goes through so quickly. The few emotions i want to talk about in this post are something most people have felt at some point in their lives. Shame, guilt, anger, frustration are just a few of the things that Lucrece goes through in the middle of this poem. The ways in which she explores them and deals with them is interesting. Take for instance when she is cursing the night for the vile act performed on her against her will. The night is an inanimate object which didn't really wrong her like Tarquin did. The idea of her suicide was also kind of off putting for me. I know she had a great love for her husband and didn't want to see his honor stained by what had happened to her, but it definitely seems like she took the easy way out unfortunately.
All in all this was a lot different from Venus and Adonis i enjoyed it for different reasons. Before this i had considered Shakespeare a great writer i never quite realized how he could diversify his talents and subject matter.
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