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The drama of Shakespeare
The drama of Shakespeare
The drama of Shakespeare
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Titus Andronicus was said to be one of Shakespeare’s first plays, and one of his WORST! There are theories that he did not even write the play himself. However, the play is much more appreciated now in the 21st century. Even though the Elizabethan society lacked many of the resources we have today, it still had an impressive advancement for back then. The advancement in theatre and its plays like Titus Andronicus, as well as cultural revolution and gaining of knowledge, prove 1550’s Elizabethan tragedy to be superior in theatre. In Elizabeth’s monarch run, she went to war with Spain. England’s relations with Spain were ruined from two main events. One cause of this was because of a decision of King Philip II, saying that he thought it was the right moment to “save” England in the name of Catholicism and reconcile Spain’s loss of treasures (Ashby 19). Prior to this, in the early 1500’s, there was a religious uprising entitled “the Protestant Reformation” (Ashby 44). This is why Spain attempted the invasion for Catholicism. In preparation for what was to come, the Treaty of Blois was signed in 1572 with France to unofficially show Spain threatened England more than France (“Encyclopædia”). The other cause was the execution of Elizabeth’s relative, Mary (Ashby 17). The date of her execution was on February 8, 1587 (“Encyclopædia”). As stated by Ruth Ashby, the armada happened in July 1588. “English commanders sent fire ships among the Spanish galleons at night to confuse them. The English Attack next morning and the armada retreated” (19-20). Though the plan was successful, Elizabeth went into debt after the conflict. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, the expenses of around twenty years of war severely corrupted Elizabeth’s finan... ... middle of paper ... ... connection between the play and the Elizabethan. I did notice that Aaron’s symbolism in Titus Andronicus connected with the Elizabethan society. In the Elizabethan times, racism existed which is why Shakespeare made the most evil person in the story have darker skin color. I believe that Shakespeare was trying to communicate the faults of Rome’s government, rather than connecting it with his government under Elizabeth I. Ultimately, the Elizabethan society thrived off of what consisted within it. Changes in culture added variety in society. Theatre had just started to become popular and began to take a huge role during those times. Not to mention, Shakespeare started writing his fantastic plays, all of which are studied and thoroughly appreciated in the 21st century. With these perks, 1550 Elizabethan tragedy can be considered as the most remarkable time in theatre
Strangely, regardless of the fact that Aaron immediately returns to behaving diabolically, it is noteworthy that out of all the parents in Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare portrays Aaron as the parent who sacrifices all for his child. Tamora believed herself to be wholly degraded after begging for Alarbus’ life, and she made no further sacrifices for her children. To Titus’ credit, he chopped off his hand in an effort to save two of his sons, but Aaron gave his life for the benefit of his child. Shakespeare skillfully salvages the noble family line, and the remaining Andronicus family members, mainly Lucius and his son, will continue as imperialists. Plainly, although Titus lost many sons in the war with the Goths, he did not despair over his losses.
At first glance, these categories appear entirely incompatible, unable to exist together. However, in Julie Taymor's adaptation of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, we find that they are compatible after all. With elaborate sets, stunning costumes, and a remarkable film score, Taymor blurs the boundaries that divide them and creates a world that accommodates both ancient Rome and modern America.
One of the distinguishing factors in portraying Titus centers in its origin: "Titus Andronicus [...] must be considered as an experimental play" (Bowers 118). Being Shakespeare's first attempt at tragedy, it obviously has room for error. Yet, as some critics and scholars would say, I believe there is a similar element found in all of Shakespeare's works, no matter when they were written: "Shakespeare constantly reminds us that the character's predicament and humanity is very like our own" (Barton 184). No matter what the plot is, or where he chose to set the story, Shakespeare captures a fundamental element of humanity. Within Titus Andronicus, it is undoubtedly humanity's search for revenge: "Titus Andronicus is a play of social piety, outrage, suffering, and revenge" (Barber 133). The first three elements that Barber attributes to the work are consequential to the fourth; it is the revenge and spite of Titus, Tamora, and Aaron that fuel the other three elements.
The "Introduction" of the "Intr Titus Andronicus. The Arden Shakespeare. London: Routledge, 1995. http://www. 1.
Shakespeare is known for his eloquent word choice and illusive images, and Titus Andronicus is no exception to that. Titus Andronicus being focused around blood, rape and murder, has to be conveyed in a very specific way to promote the concise narrative Shakespeare imagined. More specifically as shown in act 2 scene 1, Shakespeare makes sure the reader knows the background behind Tamora and Aarons complex relationship. In this monologue Aaron addresses Tamora and his love for her using images, cultural references, and poetic devices to further support his desires. Through specific descriptions and illusive images, Shakespeare sets forth scene 2 by alluding to the reader Aarons true intentions to take advantage of Tamora and her power to seek vengeance on Rome.
Shakespeare portrays how his ideal king is defined as an ultimate hero in the historic play, Henry V. This play helps everyone in the Elizabethan time period understand the reality of being a ruler. During this summary of the Elizabethan time period and Henry V, I will be talking about Queen Elizabeth and how she affected the time period all together including social class and the Hundred Years War. The Globe also played a major role in the Elizabethan era. It hosted many different types of plays with many different audiences. Henry the V is a major part in this time period because it shows just how people lived in the royal family. It makes people wonder how someone could go through this all without going insane. That is why the Elizabethan era is one of the greatest of all time.
Miola, Robert. Titus Andronicus and the Mythos of Shakespeare's Rome, in Shakespeare Studies, 14 (1981), 85-98.
In 1588, when King Phillip II launched an attack that, logically, should have decimated the English fleet, known as the Spanish Armada, he justified it by citing the Papal Bull that excommunicated Elizabeth in 1570.
William Shakespeare's play, Titus Andronicus, is a very convoluted play that could have easily failed to connect with its audience when first performed on stage. With poor props, setting and theatrical effects, Shakespeare’s major themes in the play could easily have been lost on the audience. Over four hundred years after it opened at The Globe Theatre, film director, Julie Taymor used techniques including time travel, costume choice and a mixture of ancient Roman and contemporary artifacts to emphasize and revamp the major ideas of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus.
Shakespeare, William. "Titus Andronicus" The Norton Shakespeare. Ed. Stanley Wells & |Gary Taylor. New York/London, W.W. Norton Company,1997. 371-434
The premise of the play Titus Andronicus can be easily summed up in one word. That word is simply ‘honor’. Honor means a different thing today than it did during the Roman Empire or Shakespeare’s life, but it is important to know honor’s definition in order to understand Titus Andronicus. Honor was used to justify murdering multiple times throughout the play. Titus killed two of his own children to protect his honor. Titus’s honor was also destroyed by Lavinia being raped and mutilated and Aaron tricking Titus into cutting off his hand, an important symbol of his honor. The word ‘honor’ has a huge impact on the play Titus Andronicus.
Through comedy and tragedy Shakespeare reveals the vast expanses and profound depths of the character of life. For him they are not separate worlds of drama and romance, but poles of a continuum. The distinction between tragedy and comedy is called in question when we turn to Shakespeare. Though the characters differ in stature and power, and the events vary in weight and significance, the movements of life in all Shakespeare's plays are governed by the same universal principles which move events in our own lives. Through myriad images Shakespeare portrays not only the character of man and society but the character of life itself.
Elizabeth I unified England with the Elizabethan settlement. The Elizabethan settlement was a series of reforms that created a middle ground between the Protestants and the Catholics. The Church of England kept some Catholic rituals, while Elizabeth I allowed English to replace Latin in church services. These seemingly small changes ended years of religious turmoil.
When Shakespeare wrote Titus Andronicus, the issues of race were at their peak. It was the time where blacks were seen as barbarous and villainous, and that is exactly what Shakespeare gave his audience when he presented the character Aaron the Moor. Unfortunately white Europeans did not sympathize or connect with this character, mostly because Aaron seemed to symbolize the black population as a whole. Shakespeare makes it very clear that Aaron has a hard time of gaining the likeness and approval of not only the audience, but also the characters in Titus Andronicus. In his article, Uddalak Dutta states that “Shakespeare seems to attest that “blackness” is, indeed, not merely skin-deep but an essential character trait” (927). Aaron’s characterization is one that cannot be matched by any other character in Shakespeare’s plays. Aaron embodies the characteristics of
William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe, and Ben Johnson are names that have resonated through the centuries. Not since ancient Athens has there been such gluttony of talent, producing stories for the ages. Might Athens be were these Englishmen found their inspiration? Greece produced its share of legendary playwrights; Sophocles and Euripides are two of the most famous. There are far m Elizabethan England gave birth to some of the most famous names in theatre. ore similarities between Elizabethan and Greek Theatre then there are differences. The influence of both eras is felt even today, stage productions of Shakespeare and Euripides are performed from London too Broadway and everywhere in between. I believe that both eras have influenced modern theatre simply because the Greek so obviously influenced Elizabethan theatre.