1- Lucretia

Legendary Women- section 1

what is the purpose of the Lucretia story

links to the founding of the Roman Republic political system in Rome

who was Lucretia and who was she married to

a noblewoman, married to a man called Collatinus

what boast did Collatinus make at a dinner party

that none off the other guests had a better wife than he did; they didn’t agree and decided to have a contest

what were the wives doing at the same time as this

having their own dinner party

what does the wives contest show about Lucretia and the nature of women

• Lucretia best wife, means she is valued and has a close relationship with her husband

• Collatinus is using her as if she were a trophy to show off, objectifying her

• beauty is not the only important thing, but a woman;s actions

what was Lucretia doing at the women’s dinner party and what does this show about her character

she was sitting with her maids, weaving by candlelight

• Lucretia not involving herself in the revelry and temptation; positive virtue

• weaving is a female virtue- shows Lucretia as honourable

what was the result of the most virtuous wife competition

all the men agreed that Lucretia was the most virtuous wife of them all and was the winner

what was the name of one of the men at the party and the son of a king

Tarquinius Superbus

why did Tarquinius want to sleep with Lucretia

her virtue; the more virtuous you are, the more desirable you are; not just about appearance

when did Tarquinius go to Lucretia’s house and what did she do with him; what does this show about Lucretia’s character

• he went to visit Lucretia while Collatinus was away

• she welcomed him with hospitality, food and a bed to sleep in

shows xenia; kind and hospitable, no matter the guest; a good female virtue is being a good host

what did the prince do to Lucretia and what does this show about Lucretia

Tarquinius went to Lucretia with a sword; he woke her and warned her to stay silent and declared his lover for her, trying to convince her to sleep with him; she refused. The prince then threatened to kill her and she still refused

she refused him despite being armed; shows her loyalty to her husband, positive value for women

what made Lucretia agree to sleep with Tarquinius and what does this show about her character

he threatened to kill her and one of her male slaves, would put them together in bed and tell everyone that he had caught them having an affair and so he had killed them both for adultery

• didn’t want to be seen as a traitor to her husband, even if it meant she had to be raped

• doesn’t want a bad reputation; reputation more important than life

• doesn’t want her husband to look bad by having a bad wife

what did Lucretia do after being raped and what does this show about Lucretia

Lucretia called her father and husband and told them what happened

she doesn’t hide; she is truthful, which is a positive female virtue

what did Lucretia do after telling her father and husband what happened, and what does this show about her character

• made them swear an oath for his crime

• revealed a knife from her dress and stabbed herself in the heart

• before she died she said she did not relieve herself from punishment and that no shameless woman will ever live by the example of Lucretia

makes her honourable as she still blames herself; noble

what does Lucretia say before she kills herself and what does this show about her character

she says that she did not relieve herself from punishment and that no shameless woman would ever live by the example of Lucretia

means she doesnt want women to have affairs and say they’re raped and the have no blame; pietas and pudicitia= pax deorum

who is Lucretia’s uncle

Brutus

what does Brutus do with Lucretia’s body

takes it to the forum to show the people what had happened, and this then sparked a revolution

what happens in the revolution

the king and his family were exiled and the Roman Republic was put in place to prevent a corrupt man from abusing power

what does Lucretia show us about the values and nature of women

• weaving honourable

• truthfulness honourable

• faithfulness honourable

• xenia honourable

• stoic-self-control honourable