Sean Barrs 's Reviews > Titus Andronicus

I saw this at Shakespeare’s Globe in London last summer, and was absolutely amazed at the brutal brilliance of the production. The actor who played Titus was superb; he captured Titus’s decent into madness perfectly by evoking a character that started out as strong and fearless to one who ended up unhinged and brutal. It is no wonder though that Titus fell into depravity because his house, and name, has been torn apart by revenge. Consequently, he embraces revenge, causing his madness, because his daughter was brutalised upon to inflict wounds upon him.

Lots of bloody violence



Now this is a play that would have appealed to both the masses and the gentry of the Renaissance era. The play is violent, and I mean violent. There is something like fifteen deaths, a whole bunch of decapitations and one incredibly cruel rape. For theatre this is a very high toll. Thus, the Renaissance common folk would have been entertained because they had a taste for bloody spectacle. Moreover, the play retains the popular revenge theme through the sophistication of its plot, which would have appealed to more educated audience. In addition, it was delivered in the most eloquent of styles: Shakespearean Iambic Pentameter. Thus, the gentry too would have been entertained.

This is quite a feat in itself to write a play to appeal to audiences both high and low. However, in spite of this, this is commonly regarded as Shakespeare’s worse play. Some people even go as far to argue that because it is so poor, in their opinion, that he couldn’t of wrote it. I disagree with this assessment. I really enjoyed the play, but I must say it is a play that is performed better than it is read. This was written for the stage not the page.

Brutal revenge plot



The plot begins with Titus returning to Rome as a victor of a successful campaign over the barbarous Goths. He has brought back their royalty, in chains, as his prize. He executes the eldest prince to appease the citizens of Rome. The Queen of the Goths, Tamora, swears revenge; she later seduces the new Emperor and embarks upon a quest that seeks the ruination of the house of Andronicus, which breeds more revenge. This time it is the hearts of the remaining members of the house of Andronicus.

Whilst Renaissance Tragedy was not meant to be didactical (used as a learning tool) like Greek Tragedy, I think a lot can be taken from revenge Tragedy. This may have been only staged to entertain, but it demonstrates the detrimental effects of revenge. If you revenge the death of a love one, whether justly or unjustly, it creates more revenge in the hearts of those you have revenged upon. This creates a vicious cycle that will only end with everyone dead. Indeed, revenge is something to be considered most carefully.

Overall, this is a great play. I don’t care what the critics say because this play is both entertaining and intellectual. The revenge theme keeps the reader/audience entertained whilst the creation of Titus’s fall from grace keeps the play sophisticated enough to merit the study of it. I do think if you’re a reader that hates Shakespeare, god forbid, then this is a play that may peak your interest.