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Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare Project Lecture IV) (Patreon)

Published:
2023-02-12 18:20:31
Imported:
2026-06
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  • Titus Andronicus Lecture.mp3

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Content

Our tour through the works of William Shakespeare continues with the abominable banquet of blood that is Titus Andronicus.

Topics of discussion include: revenge tragedy, performability, parody, classical sources, gross-out entertainment, and much more.

Timestamps:

  • 0:00 Shakespeare's weakest works
  • 1:10 The Two Gentlemen of Verona
  • 2:45 critical responses to Titus Andronicus
  • 6:00 another writing exercise from young Will
  • 7:56 is this play a parody of revenge tragedy?
  • 8:40 on stage and film adaptations
  • 11:40 humour & ‘gross-out’ entertainment
  • 16:48 where are the gods?
  • 23:00 on revenge & desire for justice
  • 24:35 bloodshed in Titus Andronicus
  • 32:00 my personal one passage 
  • 33:15 Shakespeare’s source material
  • 36:50 on Shakespeare's ambitions 
  • 38:00 your thoughts on this play?

Recommended Resources:

  • Film Appreciation: I recommend you pair your reading of Titus Andronicus with Julie Taymor's 1999 film version, starring Anthony Hopkins. You might find it useful to think about how you would adapt this play. Do you agree with Taymor's directorial choices?  
  • Recommended Edition: Jonathan Bate has an authoritative introduction to this play in the Arden series that is well worth checking out. Bate has many works on Shakespeare that are worth reading, like How the Classics Made Shakespeare and his latest Mad About Shakespeare.
  • The Art of Theatre: You may find it rewarding to start layering some dramatic theory into your journey through Shakespeare. I highly recommend director and RSC cofounder Peter Brook's superb The Empty Space, where he discusses the Deadly, Rough, Holy, and Immediate Theatre. 
  • Shakespeare Acting Masterclass: Brian Cox talks about the ludicrous nature of Titus Andronicus and gives a great performance in a clip here. 

Questions for You:

1) Do you think Titus Andronicus was intended to be a parody?

2) How would you stage this play today? Should it be staged? 

3) What line, passage, or idea from this play most resonated with you? And what is your personal grading for this one?

Happy reading, Bardolators!

Files

Previews only

Comments

Sarah Clark

I liked it in spite of myself, rather in the same way I like the Kill Bill movies in spite of myself, and for similar reasons. I give it a C, which puts it at the same grade as Shrew, but I rank it below Shrew, because it doesn't really say anything new or interesting about revenge. That said, it's readable and sweeps you along with the story in spite of yourself. This is the first play in the chronological read where I truly got absorbed in the story. Is it meant to be a parody? Perhaps. Though it certainly leaves one a little ill at the end about being simultaneously entertained and appalled by what came before. I think we can all agree that's intentional. How should it be staged today? Well, Youtube offered me up a few snippets of the Julie Taymor/Anthony Hopkins adaptation, which I may watch for fun this weekend. The high concept Sweeney Todd route probably suits it. And should it be staged? I don't see any reason why not. It's no more vile than your typical episode of Game of Thrones. Favorite Passage: "O cruel, irreligious piety!" (Tamora, Act 1 Scene 1)--Lest we forget that the title antihero actually kicked off this whole revenge cycle by sacrificing Tamora's son. (and no, we don't know who started the war that took 21 of his Titus' sons before the start of the play, but in a way Shakespeare seems to be arguing that it's irrelevant who started what at this point.) Current Rankings: Taming of the Shrew: C Titus Andronicus: C Two Gentlemen of Verona: C- Comedy of Errors: D

Rachel Brown

Wow - ok - this was a play I knew nothing about. Firstly, I accompanied it with an audio recording - which was very overacted (almost humorously) - so added to the impact in the most entertaining way. Rating: D I’m glad things will be looking up from here 🤦🏻‍♀️