Titus Andronicus Research Paper

It is not out of duty to Rome that Titus and his sons fight so valiantly against the Goths, but out of the hope of bringing honour to the family name of the Andronici. Honour is everything to Titus, and as such it shapes the nature of the play.

Shakespeare’s revenge tragedy, Titus Andronicus, features what seems to be an endless cycle of vengeance, violence, and uproar, but amidst this chaos, there is a character who is silent for majority of the play. Titus Andronicus’s virtuous daughter, Lavinia, is a character who is tragically raped and mutilated by Demetrius and Chiron. They cut off her tongue and hands so that she is unable to name them as her attackers. With the play alone, it is difficult to illustrate and interpret Lavinia’s thoughts or feelings since she cannot speak nor use her hands. However, the movie version, Titus, allows the audience to expand their knowledge of Lavinia’s character whether it is through her clothing or expression.

Dr. Alistair Brown’s article discusses humanity’s amazing ability to make violence entertaining. Dr. Brown suspect’s laughter is a defense mechanism activated when a moment is too horrific. He also believes how and why the death of a character occurs will determine the audiences emotional response. What’s most uncomfortable about Titus Andronicus is the really terrifying, brutal, and monstrous deeds done happen in real life. Dr. Brown addresses Lavinia’s rape, Chiron and Demetrius’ violent acts, Aaron’s sly self-loyalty, racism, and clashing beliefs against Taymor’s ancient/modern Rome, and believes this is a metaphor for violence and its lack of respect for time. Our responsibility as the audience is to figure out whether or not the acts

Shakespeare’s first tragedy Titus Andronicus was a big hit; today how ever it is not regarded highly.

Adding to the consequence of first born sons in Titus Andronicus is the fact that the play opens with Caesar’s eldest son, Saturninus. Saturninus is asserting his right to rule Rome. He exclaims, “Plead my successive title with your swords/I am his firstborn son that was the last,” in an effort to remind the Romans that he is in the rightful position to succeed his father as he is the eldest (Shakespeare 1.14-5). The fact that Bassianus attempts to take the throne from his older brother, Saturninus, creates immediate friction and intrigue, even in present times, because society continues to accept the elevated position of first born sons.

There are have been many arguments throughout the history of Shakespearean academia regarding the validity of Shakespeare’s authorship to Titus Andronicus, and the critics have not been shy to express their discontent of its seemingly endless violent montage. As Michael Fentiman and Harold Fuller point out of what Dr. Samuel Johnson spoke to in 1765,

The creator of Titus Andronicus is William Shakespeare. The subject I pick that identifies with current circumstances is revenge. Revenge is the activity of incurring hurt or mischief on somebody for a harm or wrong endured at their hands. The literary text I will use to examine the content is personification. The reason personification is significant in the play is on account of Tamora suspected that Titus was insane and came to visit him dressed as revenge.

Some say revenge is a dish best served cold, but in Titus Andronicus this dish is served piping hot and bloody. One of the literary themes presented is critical disability study. Critical disability is when somebody stands out from the norm. One study talks about being socially disabled and not being able to fit in with the rest of the group in the story. Another study talks about the definition of normality, and how those who don’t fit into that category affect the story as a whole. Another story talks about how being disabled in a certain way acts as a catalyst for a character and fuels their actions from then on. In Titus Andronicus each of these forms of critical disability are present. Titus and Lavinia are both crippled in a multitude of ways physically. However, there are other characters who have a disability that cripples them; Aaron the Moor, Tamora queen of the goths, and Saturninus the Emperor. They are crippled in different ways through their views and actions. These crippled characters are a major part of the story. If they were not present or the things that crippled them were not present then the story would not be viewed in the same light.

The book that will be analyzed is called “Feed” and it is written by M.T. Anderson. One of the topics that will be discussed in this essay would be some of Titus’s character traits. Another topic that will be discussed would be Titus’s changes during the novel. Finally the last topic that is going to be discussed would

All the persons Shakespeare depicts in Titus are two dimensional, either good or bad. The dividing line falls between those who support Titus, the tragic warrior hero, and those on the side of Tamora, the evil Queen-empress. The former are noble and selfless, demonstrating roman pietas, while the latter are ignoble and selfish. In Jack E. Reese's essay, The Formalization of Horror in Titus Andronicus, he makes the point that Tamora and her sons' allegorical dressing-up as "Revenge, Murder, and Rapine can be viewed as a symbol of the characterization of the entire work" (Horror 79). In this scene, they are as they are, the symbol is exactly the same as the person. The only two characters who might be said to escape the dichotomy are Titus and Aaron the Moor. In Rome, Titus "sacrifices" both his son and his daughter, says Miola, "on the alter of his own personal honor" (Family 67). It is fair to say that personal honor is his concern in killing his offspring, for Mutius represents shameful filial disobedience (or mutiny) and Lavinia represents his inability to protect her and is a reminder of a shameful act done not only to her, but to her whole Andronici family too. It

The play Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare depicts the Roman Empire from a very traditional perspective within each of the characters. Shakespeare creates a visual of historical Rome that includes many blood battles, deception, courage and loyalty not just to Rome and her people, but to one 's family. By doing this, Shakespeare shows the reader that Rome was a great city of power that revolved around the idea that justice must be of an equivalent manner suitable to the crime committed by the other party. The word "Rome", both historically and in modern times, is often defined as being the perfect model for an advanced civilization, and many looked upon Rome and Romans as being "examples of excellence for architecture and political advances within a society". ("Rome", OED Online). The word "Rome" is seen frequently throughout the play and is used by almost all of the characters. It is a word that describes what Roman civilization entails and how the city of Rome can be a very dark and cruel city. The Roman characters in particular describe the two main concepts of "Rome" and "Roman" by means of traditional birth-right and traditional forms of justice. Both meanings are seen frequently amongst each Roman character. By fully understanding why particular events in the play occur and being able to see the traditional aspects of the word "Rome" among each character, it aids the reader in understanding how the play revolves around the historical context of Roman values of

In fact, the two characters in Shakespeare’s plays are very significant since their stance against the damaged honor is similar. Titus and Hamlet have their own individual moral standpoints on taking revenge in which one display emotional outbursts that is Titus and another shows maturity of thought while

In the play "Titus Andronicus", the theme of parents and children is clearly visible, and the audience get to see a humanitarian side of the presumably purely evil Aaron, that he shows towards his son. Unlike the hero of the play, Titus, who does not hesitate to "slay his son in a wrongful quarrel"(Shakespeare 1.1.294) and disown him:"Nor thou, nor he, are any sons of mine; my son's would never so dishonour me"(Shakespeare 1.1.295-296), Aaron refuses that his son be killed, and makes it clear that he "shall not die"(Shakespeare 4.2.81) and that he who touches his son "will die upon his scimitar's sharp point"(Shakespeare 4.2.91-92).Some might argue that Aaron's actions towards his son are simply egotistical ,and that he sees

By sacrificing Tamora’s eldest son in order to appease his gods, Titus sets off a chain of events that will lead to further death and pain. Shakespeare questions the norms of society and how morals come into play in all facets of life. With the pressure from society as well as self-expectations, one’s self-identity can come into question, and often illustrates their true character.

Titus Andronicus introduces the reader to a multifaceted relationship of a father and a son. In the very first scene of the play, just after Titus says, “What, villain, boy / Barr’st me my way in Rome?” (1.1.295-96), he kills Mutius, his own son. Titus is not concerned about his daughter eloping with Bassianus, rather he believes that the ten-year long war has won him the ownership of Rome. His pride cannot let anyone, even his son, stand between him and his prized possession. Shakespeare uses violence to depict the masculine character of Titus. Titus’ ego shines more brightly in these lines than his love for his son.