... to expatiate her sin claiming to be "unworthy to live, after being stained with blood; though that blood was shed to wash away my stain". She tells her story to the justices, "without either rage or passion" and moved by her modesty and its betrayal, they publicly denounce Roderigo. The narrator makes the brief, yet caustic remark ... her chastity and magnanimity deserved, Violenta was condemned to be beheaded" (170). The author's refusal to levy the appropriate punishment of having Violenta burned at the stake ends the story not with the usual horror and loathing at the depravity of fe...

• Word Count: 1986
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: Graduate