The Character of Tarquin in Macbeth and Cymbeline Essay -- comparison

The Character of Tarquin in Macbeth and Cymbeline     Tarquins image as a man of dastardly action becomes part of both Shakespeares Macbeth and Cymbeline.  As Iachimo emerges from a box in Imogens bedchamber he speaks, and his words reflect the feeling not only of himself but all trespassers in Shakespeares plays. Iachimo likens his actions to that of Tarquin, a Roman Tyrant who rapes the matron Lucrece. His trespassing in Imogens bed chamber while she is sleeping is to Iachimo like rape. He violates her space and privacy. Similarly in the play Macbeth, Macbeth before killing Duncan invokes the image of Tarquin, With Tarquins ravishing strides towards, his design Moves like a ghost. Thou sure and firm slew earth hear not my steps (2.1.55-58). Both plays use of the image of Tarquin reveals fascinating intricacies about the way in which Shakespeare takes traditional images of rapists and murders and re-uses them to relate to the actions of the characters in the play.             By invoking th...