Titus Andronicus history
My play that I was assigned was Titus Andronicus, probably one of the bloodiest plays ever written. The most popular of his plays during life, Titus kept it's popularity until the seventeenth century when Edward Ravenscroft changed the minds of generations to come. He found the play uninspired and many were shocked to think that their beloved Shakespeare could produce a work so reviled.
Whether or not Titus Andronicus is good is really the opinion of the reader, or the viewer. It has been said that good stage productions of Titus can change the mind of even the most adament Titus hater. Personally I've never seen it performed although I would recommend the movie for anyone with free time on a Saturday night.
Revenge Tragedy was the genre of the time. This is also the subject of my presentation. Thomas Kyd's "The Spanish Tragedy" and Marlowe's "The Jew of Malta" set the standard for gory vengeance. In Harold Bloom's opinion Titus was a comedy, a parody of the genre of the time. Its over-the-top violence was a mockery of Kyd's and Marlowe's bloody masterpieces. In Bloom's opinion the play is ridiculous if you read it as anything other than a comedy.
Aaron, the central architect in the violence in the play is a moor (black.) This would be an easy wource of contempt for prejudice Elizabethean audiences. But before Shakespeare is written off as a flaming racist one has to remember that Othello was also black. Aaron's character is particularly interesting because without him none of the play's action would occur. He masterminds every violent act and towards the end of the play admits that he reveled in ruining the lives of the other characters and would do it again if he had the chance.
Overall I think it is hard to say that any of Shakespeare's works are bad. Personally I would not even attempt to list them from best to worst. However, I would not say that this is Shakespeare's best. It is estimated to be one of the first plays he wrote and is deffinitly one of his first tragedies. For a first attempt at tragedy no one could have done it better.
Marilyn
Whether or not Titus Andronicus is good is really the opinion of the reader, or the viewer. It has been said that good stage productions of Titus can change the mind of even the most adament Titus hater. Personally I've never seen it performed although I would recommend the movie for anyone with free time on a Saturday night.
Revenge Tragedy was the genre of the time. This is also the subject of my presentation. Thomas Kyd's "The Spanish Tragedy" and Marlowe's "The Jew of Malta" set the standard for gory vengeance. In Harold Bloom's opinion Titus was a comedy, a parody of the genre of the time. Its over-the-top violence was a mockery of Kyd's and Marlowe's bloody masterpieces. In Bloom's opinion the play is ridiculous if you read it as anything other than a comedy.
Aaron, the central architect in the violence in the play is a moor (black.) This would be an easy wource of contempt for prejudice Elizabethean audiences. But before Shakespeare is written off as a flaming racist one has to remember that Othello was also black. Aaron's character is particularly interesting because without him none of the play's action would occur. He masterminds every violent act and towards the end of the play admits that he reveled in ruining the lives of the other characters and would do it again if he had the chance.
Overall I think it is hard to say that any of Shakespeare's works are bad. Personally I would not even attempt to list them from best to worst. However, I would not say that this is Shakespeare's best. It is estimated to be one of the first plays he wrote and is deffinitly one of his first tragedies. For a first attempt at tragedy no one could have done it better.
Marilyn
posted by marilyn v bruce at 11:28 AM
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