<div class="mceTemp mceIEcenter"><dl><dt><a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Titus-Andronicus-2003.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1645 aligncenter" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Titus-Andronicus-2003-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a></dt><dd>0, handle not the theme, to talk of hands, lest we remember still that we have none.</dd></dl>
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<div>     When discussing English literature, there is no pinnacle higher, no name more recognized than that of William Shakespeare. Born into the height of the renaissance period, sometime roughly around 1564, Shakespeare authored and co-authored a large number of plays that are still known the world over today. One of his first tragedies, <em>Titus Andronicus</em>, was written between 1588 and 1593. It is a classic tale of revenge and the human struggle with morality, and heavily reflects the fascination at the time for classic tales of passion and drama, especially ones drawn from the influence of ancient Greece and Rome. The fascination with subject matter from the classical world encompassed both art and literature, and many stories by Greek and Roman authors were being adapted for public consumption, including the writings of Ovid, is mentioned specifically in <em>Titus Andronicus</em>. It is the homage that Shakespeare pays to the authors of the past as well as the fact that<em> Titus Andronicus</em> is the first tragedy written by the famous playwright that makes it of such historical importance.<!--more--></div>
<div>     "It was from the stores of Greek and Latin churches...that the monks had preserved the seeds of many arts, particularly the art of design, though in a very imperfect degree, but still sufficient, by cultivation, to produce effects of the greatest magnitude. In respect to the progress of refinement in Italy, it must be observed, that the little republic of Florence gave birth to many restorers of science, letters, and arts. Painting, sculpture, and architecture were advanced and perfected by the consecutive labors of well-employed artists, during the course of almost three hundred years, from Cimbaue to Leonardo da Vinci, Frau Bartolomeo to Michael Angelo" ( Northcote 1: 393-394 ). Like most writers of his time, William Shakespeare was influenced heavily by the art and culture that surrounded him. Most subject matter had been brought over to England by the Romans that initially established the country, and because of this the art and writings focused heavily on the mythos of Greece and Rome, as well as religious subject matter. Many of the books at the time were written in languages such as Latin, and while there were certainly texts published in old English, the majority of the population at the time was illiterate. This is what motivated playwrights such as Shakespeare to take these stories and re-create them in a medium that the masses would be able to enjoy. At the same time painters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michael Angelo were producing works that visually told stories in a way that didn't require a literate audience. "Many works produced by English artists between the year 1200 and the reign of Henry the VII could be compared with the best Italian artists of the same time" ( Flaxman 51 ).</div>
<div>     It is difficult to dispute the greatness of Shakespeare, and part of what made his plays so wildly popular was their presentation by the Lord Chamberlain's Men in the famous Globe Theatre.“In 1603, when James I succeeded Elizabeth, he gave the company a royal patent, and it became the King's Men. From 1603 to 1616 they played an average of twelve performances a year at Court. James supplied nine members, including Shakespeare, with four-and-a-half yards of red cloth each to make liveries to wear in his coronation procession” ( 7 ).<em> </em><em>Titus Andronicus</em> was the first of Shakespeare's tragedies and would have been the first of his tragedies performed by the theatre company, and likely also the first of Shakespeare's tragedies performed in the Globe theatre. Although it was a very lewd and violent play that was designed to appeal to the public, the way in which the theatre company presented it was different from any other play being produced at the time, and the work itself is innovative in that it was the first time Shakespeare broke away from writing comedies.</div>
<div>     Edward Ravenscroft ( 1654-1707), was an English dramatist who is best known for criticizing <em>Titus Andronicus</em> foremost among Shakespeare's works. Ravenscroft originated the theory that<em> Titus Andronicus</em> wasn't actually written by Shakespeare, instead supposing that the playwright took an already existing story and re-worked it. Ravenscroft has been quoted at saying,"... 'tis the most incorrect and indigested piece in all his Works, It seems rather a heap of Rubbish then a Structure" ( 4 ). This is in direct conflict with more current opinions. Most are familiar with the unbiased reviewing of written material provided by Cliffnotes, which claims,"As is true in all of Shakespeare's plays,<em> Titus Andronicu</em>s is structured from conventions and traditions and philosophies which were well-known in Shakespeare's time; the play was not created in a vacuum, and although it is vulnerable to negative criticism, it contains some very good dramatic moments" ( Wiley 63 ). While critics have developed more love for this particular play, the public has lost some of the stomach for the material it presents. At the time when the play was initially being performed, the state of affairs was completely opposite. Critics frowned upon <em>Titus Andronicus</em> because it was irreverent and created to appeal to the general public, who in turn were fascinated by the violence of the play.</div>
<div>     My personal love for this play comes from the empathetic position which is given to Titus himself. Only wanting to do right and be honorable, the Roman general makes the grievous mistake of allowing his sons to sacrifice one of the captive sons of the Queen of the Goths. Although the motivation for this act is piety, it starts the chain reaction of revenge between Tamora and her sons and Titus' family. Aaron is witty and provides a perfect antagonist, being a well written and vicious villain, and the various monologues are not only entertaining but beautifully written.</div>
<div>     When talking about the masterful writing in Shakespeare's <em>Titus Andronicus</em>, it is important to compare it to at least one other piece of literature from the time. One of Shakespeare's most well known contemporaries and a fellow writer was Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, who is famous for his book, <em>Don Quixote</em>. Compared to the whimsical, meandering story of the short-sighted and idealistic knight, Shakespeare's bloody story is almost a polar opposite. <em>Don Quixote</em> is satirical and full of poignant messages about life. Alonso Quixano completely reinvents himself, giving his horse a new name and polishing his grandfather's armor, then sets out to do great deeds as a knight-errant. There is a direct parallel in Don Quixote's voluntary insanity and the insanity that Titus feigns in order to fool Tamora and her sons into the trap he has set. Both characters are using the guise of insanity to reach a higher goal. Don Quixote seeks to reach the pinnacle of chivalry while Titus seeks to gain revenge. Another way in which both works are different is that Shakespeare sought to move away from the dark ages and the time of knights, instead seeking a return to the glorified ideas of the ancient world, re-telling tales from Greece and Rome the movement of intellectualism and enlightenment that personified the renaissance. Meanwhile Cervantes sought to present a romanticized vision of the more recent past and the times of knighthood and chivalry in order to keep alive those ideas.</div>
<div>     When reviewing <em>Titus Andronicu</em>s it is most important to remember that this work was heavily based upon the <em>Metamorphosis</em> by Ovid, which is actually quoted in the play. Aside from being Shakespeare's first tragedy and a fine example of his work, this play is essentially a way for the mythos and figures of the ancient world to be presented to the masses, most of whom were unable to read the stories for themselves. <em>Titus Andronicu</em>s may be criticized as a violent play, but the works that were drawn upon for its creation are likewise bloody and bizarre. Regardless of anyone's personal opinions about the content, this play is historically important not just for the connection to the great playwright, but also for the connection to the original religious beliefs of the Greeks and Romans.</div>
<div align="center">__________________Works Cited_________________</div>
<div align="left">1. Northcote, James . <em>Life of Titan, with Anecdotes of the Distinguished Persons of His Times. 2 vols</em>. London; Colburn and Bentley, 1830.
2. Flaxman, John. <em>Lectures on Sculpture, To which Are Now First Added, an Introductory Lecture, and Two Addresses...on the Death of Thomas Banks, in 1805</em>. London; Henry G. Bohn, 1838.
3. Oxford Reference Online Premium [ A Dictionary of Shakespeare ] -- <a href="http://www.oxfordreference.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t57.e396">http://www.oxfordreference.com.lsproxy.austincc.edu/views/ENTRY.html?entry=t57.e396</a>
4. Gillies, John. <em>Shakespeare and the geography of difference</em>. La Trobe University; 1947.
5. John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc.<em> Shakespeare's Minor Plays : Notes ...</em> 1991. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). EBSCO. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.
6. Sturman, Marianne, and Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.<em> Don Quixote : Notes</em>. John Wiley &amp; Sons, Inc. (US), 1964. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). EBSCO. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.</div>
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7. Oxford Reference Online Premium [ A Dictionary of Shakespeare ] -- <a href="http://www.answers.com/topic/lord-chamberlain-s-men" target="_blank">http://www.answers.com/topic/lord-chamberlain-s-men</a>

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