It is clear that William Shakespeare's The Rape of Lucrece examines the psychological effects of rape. However, what is less clear are the effects of the power that this poem portrays and how it interacts with sexual violence. Power plays a crucial role in the poem before, during, and after the act of sexual violence. This is evident through the struggle Tarquin has with lust, Lucrece's inability to stop Tarquin from overpowering her, and the guilt Lucrece feels after the fact. These three phases create a power dynamic centered around the act of rape. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The first example of this power struggle comes with Tarquin's struggle against the "power" of lust. In the Bible, lust is clearly described as a sin. Matthew 5:28 says, “But I say to you, that whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (ESV Matthew 5:28). Generally, sin is seen as something that one struggles with but is expected to overcome. However, in The Rape of Lucretia lust has a certain power over Tarquinius. This power seems to be much greater than ordinary sin. It is so big that Tarquinius cannot overcome it. After being essentially defeated by lust, the poem reads, “By reprobate desire so madly driven, the Roman lord marches to Lucretia's bed” (Shakespeare 298). The images created by this phrase clearly show Tarquin's inability to overcome lust. He is described as “madly driven” by this evil sin. This is interesting because the one who initiates the sexual abuse is almost always considered the perpetrator. However, the way Shakespeare describes Tarquin's experience makes it seem like Tarquin could do nothing to stop himself because he was driven by lust. Shakespeare's use of the term “reprobate desire” further explains this point. By portraying desire as reprobate, Shakespeare personifies, in a sense, lust and gives it culpability. He is taking the blame away from Tarquin and placing it on lust. While this is interesting, it doesn't appear to be accurate. Many times before the actual act of rape, it is clear that Tarquin knows that what he is about to do is wrong. The poem reads, “And in the inward mind he debates / What next pain might arise from this; / Then looking with scorn, scorns / His naked armor of lust yet butchered, and rightly so controls his unjust thoughts” (Shakespeare 183). This quote demonstrates Tarquinius' guilt by also showing his struggle with lust. The phrase "And in the inner mind he debates" shows the struggle with lust that Tarquinius is having an internal debate about whether to commit this illicit act or less. It is also clear that he knows this is wrong when the poem says “And rightly so he controls his unjust thoughts.” These unjust thoughts represent the sin of lust that he is trying to control which further accentuates Shakespeare's depiction of lust and the control it has over Tarquin. A couple of pages later, it is clear that he has officially lost control to lust, where the poem says, "As every reluctant portal gives way to him, / Through little vents and cracks of the place / The wind wars with its torch to make him stay." , / And blows the smoke in his face, / Extinguishing his conduct in this case; / But his burning heart, which passionate desire burns, / Breathes another wind that lights the torch”(Shakespeare 309). Each of these lines signifies a new internal “bridge” that Tarquinius must cross. However, he has no problem crossing these bridges because he is driven mad by lust. This is perfectly described by the quote “But his warm heart, whose fond longing burns.” This desire, or lust, burns away any control he has over his heart. It has a power over him and his heart and this is what Shakespeare conveys in this poem. The second manifestation of a power dynamic in The Rape of Lucretia occurs with the actual act of rape. The story of the rape describes Lucretia as an object of sexuality while Tarquin is essentially represented as a ravenous man troubled by lust. This is immediately evident with the lines: “Where she lies like a virtuous monument, / To be admired by obscene and profane eyes.” (Shakespeare 391). The juxtaposition presented with the words “virtuous” and “obscene” is what set the stage for the power dynamic between Tarquin and Lucretia. Lucrezia is described as a sort of pious and virtuous being just waiting to be conquered. Indeed, her breasts are later described as “like ivory globes rimmed with blue, / A pair of virgin worlds unconquered” (Shakespeare 407). Descriptions like these are what make her less of a human being and more of a strictly sexual object. . Added to this is the depiction of Tarquinius who has now made up his mind and is completely overwhelmed by lust. He is described in a way where he appears to have almost no control over his movements. “His drumming heart cheers his burning eye, / His eye recommends guidance to his hand; / Her hand, proud of such dignity, / Smoking with pride, marched to take its stand / On her bare breast, the heart of all her land” (Shakespeare 435). Here, his hand, his heart, and his eyes are described as moving on their own separate from him and his brain. This is how Shakespeare represents him as a ravenous animal driven completely by lust. Likewise, he is represented as an animal looking for its "prey". “While she, the image of pure piety, / Like a white doe under the sharp claws of the vice, / begs in a desert where there are no laws, / To the rude beast that knows not right, / Nor obeys anything else if not to his evil appetite.” (Shakespeare 542). Tarquinius is a “rude beast” and Lucrezia is his innocent prey. He will not obey laws or social orders because of his “bad appetite.” Appetite was his desire for her. He doesn't know gentle right because at this point all he knows is lust. This analogy is interesting because raw beasts are not domesticated. They don't know right from wrong. However, sexual predators do. That's why they are looked at with so much contempt in society. They know right from wrong, but choose to ignore it. However, this is not how Shakespeare represents Tarquinius here. It represents him as a rough, tamed beast that knows nothing other than its insatiable appetite for its prey. The prey, Lucrece, can do nothing but cower and beg him to leave. He is helpless in the face of his authority and his appetite. This is the dynamic that Shakespeare represents. The final instance of the power dynamic occurs after the act of rape. It examines the psychology that occurs with rape victims, after the fact. Immediately after the rape ends, the poem reads: “But she lost one thing dearer than life, / And he won what he would lose again. / This forced league causes further conflict; / This momentary joy breeds months of pain; / This hot desire turns to cold contempt” (Shakespeare 687). Here the emotions of each individual.