Lucrece

Lucrece is an alt-spelling of Lucretia, a name of Latin origin tied to a legendary Roman noblewoman whose story has influenced literature for centuries. In the traditional account, Lucretia is renowned for her virtue; she is said to have been raped by Sextus Tarquinius, the son of Rome’s king, and afterwards killed herself. Her tragedy and actions are commonly linked to the events that led to the expulsion of the Roman kings and the establishment of the Roman Republic. The name Lucrece has appeared in various literary contexts as a symbol of virtue, memory, and political consequence.

The Rape of Lucrece, sometimes simply titled Lucrece, is a long narrative poem by William Shakespeare. First published in 1594, it is written in rhymed iambic pentameter and recounts the events and aftermath of Lucrece’s assault, exploring themes of honor, conscience, and political power. The work is notable for its psychological depth and rhetorical style, and it has been discussed for its early experimentation with character and moral analysis within English verse. Scholarly assessments consider it an important though sometimes debated part of Shakespeare’s oeuvre, with influence on later tragedy and on how female virtue and state authority are imagined in early modern literature.

In broader use, Lucrece (and its variant spellings) appears in historical and literary contexts as a reference to Lucretia and the associated themes of virtue, violence, and political change.