Titus Andronicus A Senecan Tragedy

Early Modern Tragedy Tragedy: Originally meant a serious narrative recounting the downfall of the central protagonist According to Aristotle, the central character of a tragedy exhibits personal strength while manifesting a tragic flaw that leads to errors in judgment or action The suffering of the protagonist should awaken fear and pity in the audience (catharsis) Globe Production, dir. Lucy Bailey, 2006

Senecan Tragedy Titus is considered a Senecan Tragedy: based on the works of Seneca; the central individuals die in a stoic manner—revealing self-control and use of anger (which was considered the most heroic passion) Stoic figures refuse to recognize outside forces as things that shape the self and rely on their inward ability to mold themselves Shakespeare does, however, reject classical doctrines of dramatic unity (action occurring within one place and transpiring within a narrow time frame)

Elizabethan Revenge Drama Like other Shakespeare plays (notably Hamlet), Titus Andronicus classifies as a Revenge Tragedy (depicting revenge for a murder) Revenge Tragedies usually incorporated the following elements: A play within a play A character going insane A vengeful ghost Excessive gore (on-stage murder or the presentation of dead bodies) A central character with a grievance against a formidable opponent As you read the play, keep these elements in mind; does Titus fit into this schema?

The World of Titus Andronicus At the start of the play, we learn about two claimants to become Emperor. On what do these individuals base their claims? How do they hope to persuade the Roman people? Looking closely at the text, find a few passages that explain how Titus understands his honor and his role in society Julie Taymor’s 1999 film, starring Anthony Hopkins

Family Matters What do Titus’ sons mean to him? (the living and the dead) On what is their virtue based? What is Lavinia’s fame based on? How do we account for the differences between male and female virtue in Titus’ world? Why does Titus feel justified in killing Mutius? What two types of authority are in competition? Joshua Kahan Brody’s production UC San Diego, 2013

Tamora, Queen of the Goths Tamora asks for empathy from Titus; why does he refuse her request? How does she claim to define nobility? Her sons provide the first mention of revenge in the play, following the ritual murder of their brother, Alarbus Is Tamora justified in desiring revenge? (look at her reasoning in 1.1.453-458) Indira Varma as Tamora, Globe, Lucy Bailey, dir., 2015

Titus Andronicus 'A Mother's Tears' clip Globe Production 2015

Act Two, Scenes One & Two Although Aaron was present in the first act, he doesn’t speak until the second What do we learn about him from his soliloquy? Complex character: While in many ways Aaron exhibits stereotypical traits of racially othered characters (lecherous and cunning), in others ways he is depicted sympathetically (his name, Aaron, for example, reminds audiences of the Jewish figure)

Love or Lust or Something Else? What does Lavinia symbolize for the Goth brothers (Chiron and Demetrius)? How do you interpret the following lines: She is a woman, therefore may be wooed; She is a woman, therefore may be won She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved (2.1.83-85) Both brothers claim to love Lavinia, but what does their love mean? Is it lust? Or something else entirely? And why do the brothers agree to share her sexually? Notice the words used to describe Lavinia in this scene

The Hunt Notice the similarities of this scene to elements in A Midsummer Night’s Dream— Titus opens with a call to the hunt and the beauty of the natural world He also recalls a bad dream (that like Hermia’s will prove true) How is the natural world depicted in Titus? What is the effect of Demetrius’ aside at the end of this scene?

The play’s critical reception Harold Bloom notes that the play may have helped Shakespeare gain popularity but it “cannot do very much for the rest of us,” and he interprets it as a parody of popular Marlovian violence, while more recent scholars and directors have viewed it as a straight tragedy and the director of the 1999 film stated "it seems like a play written for today, it reeks of now“ (Keep these ideas in mind as you read the play) Rome was traditionally viewed as the center of culture and civilization. What can we say about the Rome presented in Titus? What do you think is the fatal flaw of the protagonists of this drama? What leads to the horrible tragedies that will befall?