This essay will aim to explore the ways in which themes of societal breakdown and honour are defined through violence in both Ovid’s The Tale of Philomela and Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus . Violence is not used here as a single broad term, for in both texts there is clear delineation between masculine and feminine violence, and again between honourable and dishonourable violence. To quote Jessica Lugo, “Shakespeare’s Ovidian precursor delivers a tale of gore that develops the themes of barbarism and silence. In Titus, Shakespeare roots out the essence of Ovid’s characters, exposes their most primal motivations, and establishes a partnership with the long-dead poet.” It is also the aim of this essay to explore how Shakespeare employs and expands upon the violence described in his “Ovidian precursor” to highlight his themes of societal breakdown and honour in the setting of ancient Rome.
The opening scene of Titus Andronicus sets the stage for a play packed with images of societal breakdown. Our introduction to the play portrays “royal Rome” pitted against “the barbarous Goths”. All is not well, however, as violence and deceit make themselves known from the outset. Titus has the Goth queen’s son Alarbus killed. In his death, themes of honourable and dishonourable violence come to the fore, contributing to the atmosphere of societal collapse within the play. Titus sees the sacrifice of Alarbus as an act of honour in respect of his own fallen sons slain in battle. Tamora views it as a dishonourable death to be killed in the street- she asks, “…must my sons be slaughtered in the streets, / For valiant doings in their country’s cause?” -with herself, a queen, left to “Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain.” The gods themselves become a …show more content…
William W. Weber suggests
The opening scene of Titus Andronicus sets the stage for a play packed with images of societal breakdown. Our introduction to the play portrays “royal Rome” pitted against “the barbarous Goths”. All is not well, however, as violence and deceit make themselves known from the outset. Titus has the Goth queen’s son Alarbus killed. In his death, themes of honourable and dishonourable violence come to the fore, contributing to the atmosphere of societal collapse within the play. Titus sees the sacrifice of Alarbus as an act of honour in respect of his own fallen sons slain in battle. Tamora views it as a dishonourable death to be killed in the street- she asks, “…must my sons be slaughtered in the streets, / For valiant doings in their country’s cause?” -with herself, a queen, left to “Kneel in the streets and beg for grace in vain.” The gods themselves become a …show more content…
William W. Weber suggests