Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus has been interpreted differently at different times (See: Background). What are some possible interpretations of the extensive violence in the play? Does it contribute to the play’s central themes, or is the work a sensationalist revenge tragedy, as some critics have alleged?

How does the play explore the ideal of the body politic? What does it suggest about the nature of political power and community?

How does the play present character growth and the problem of moral agency? Does the play suggest that people change, or that they have a fundamental, constant nature?

Titus Andronicus was designed to be experienced as a spectacle rather than to be read. How does Shakespeare give clues about staging within the dialogue? How might the play change when experienced onstage versus when read?

How does Titus Andronicus explore the nature of honor and duty? How do different characters conceive of these concepts, and what are the wider significances of these differences?

Analyze how the play presents the idea of the “other” in Roman society. In what ways does the play reflect certain stereotypes and prejudices? In what ways does it problematize these stereotypes?

Communication and expression are important motifs. What are the various forms of communication in the play? How do they illuminate the plot, characterization, and/or key themes and ideas?

How are gender roles and gender dynamics depicted in Titus Andronicus? What ideals of masculinity and femininity do the characters adhere to or seek to undermine?