Titus Andronicus
Created | Updated Mar 27, 2003
The first of Shakespeare's tragendies, Titus Andronicus is considered to be one of his weaker plays, in that being one of his earliest it lacks the more polished style of his later works, and the more systematic development of the plot. The roots of its plot also rely in ficticious history, again wavering greatly from Shakespeare's later use of history as a foundation for his works.
According to S. Clarke Hulse of Sparknotes.com, the play has "14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members, 1 rape (or 2 or 3, depending on how you count), 1 live burial, 1 case of insanity and 1 of cannibalism--an average of 5.2 atrocities per act, or one for every 97 lines." An impressive count, even for Shakepeare.
Titus Andronicus is a story of murder and revenge, a gruesome and bloody story that begins, as many tragedies do, with a conflict. It is time to choose an emperor. Saturninus, the son of the late emperor, desires the title, while his brother Bassianus also covets it. An election is their solution. Titus Andronicus has just returned from war with his sons, one of which has died in the battle. He has captured Tamora, queen of the Moors, and her sons.
According to S. Clarke Hulse of Sparknotes.com, the play has "14 killings, 9 of them on stage, 6 severed members, 1 rape (or 2 or 3, depending on how you count), 1 live burial, 1 case of insanity and 1 of cannibalism--an average of 5.2 atrocities per act, or one for every 97 lines." An impressive count, even for Shakepeare.
Summary
Titus Andronicus is a story of murder and revenge, a gruesome and bloody story that begins, as many tragedies do, with a conflict. It is time to choose an emperor. Saturninus, the son of the late emperor, desires the title, while his brother Bassianus also covets it. An election is their solution. Titus Andronicus has just returned from war with his sons, one of which has died in the battle. He has captured Tamora, queen of the Moors, and her sons.
