Livy compared this story to the rape of Lucretia and the overthrow of the monarchy in 509 BC. Modern historians view the history of Roman women such as Verginia and Lucretia as a narrative supporting traditional Roman values where women become symbols of these values and symbolize criticisms against the political reality of Roman government.[5] The people of Rome were already angry with the decemviri for not calling the proper elections, taking bribes, and other abuses after taking power within the Roman government and the story of Verginia attested to this discontent.[5]