Titus Andronicus Play Analysis

William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Titus Andronicus, is an account of the last days of the Roman Empire. The drama is unique in that it abandons the actual timeline of the fall of Rome, opting for a non-sequential presentation of events in a theoretical and philosophical arena; therefore, leaving pockets of space in between for Shakespeare’s creative expression. Although Titus is masked as largely a story of war and revenge, its imagery reveals a deeper meaning. The clear dismemberment motif, that is weaved into the story, beckons the reader to hear Rome’s ancient children weep as their beloved mother has torn from her bosom, her religion, her beauty and her government. During the time of the decline of the Empire, Romans for the most part had many gods; however, the center of a new faith called Christianity was built on the teaching of a single, all powerful God that was not the emperor. In an early scene of Titus, Tamora Queen of the Moors, who has been captured by Titus Andronicus, along with her three sons, begs for her son Alarus’ …show more content…
Looking back to the opening scene of the film “Titus” directed by Julie Taylor, we find the soldiers marching in perfect unison, all on one accord. I believe this was an artistic choice to show visually the drastic change in the military and the country; wherein, later, the ever loyal Titus will call Rome, “…a wilderness of tigers.” (3.1.54) Titus is finally led to this conclusion after having his daughter violated by the emperor’s stepsons, having his two sons unjustly accused of murder and being tricked into cutting off his own hand to save the lives of those sons’, which did not accomplish its goal. Titus feels like his service to his country has been for nothing. As many Roman men felt that a life in the military was no longer rewarding, and as they chose not to become a part of the government, it