Titus Andronicus

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Titus Andronicus is a boldly and brutal portrayal of the fragility of social and political order. It explores the consequences of vengeance, and through horrific and at times amusing drama reveals vengeances' ineffectiveness. (http://www.online-literature.com/shakespeare/titusandronicus/). The essential plot that leads Titus to his final realizations are the fact that he feels as if he has lost everything. He has done everything by the book, he has always been straightforward, he has fought Rome's wars and has gained honor. He was even asked to be emperor but his actions have taken so much away from him that he decides that he would be incapable of ruling the country. During the course of the text he feels as if all the hard work that he has done has been fruitless. It is this strict adherence to tradition that causes his enemies to take revenge against him. (sparknotes.com). An example of this is when he chooses Saturninus as emperor over Bassianus. He does this just because Saturninus is the eldest son, knowing very well that Bassianus would do a much better job as emperor then his eldest brother. Since he has always followed traditions he decides that the same rules should always be followed even it is not what is best for the country.

"Tribunes, I thank you: and this suit I make,

That you create your emperor's eldest son,

Lord Saturnine; whose virtues will, I hope,

Reflect on Rome as Titan's rays on earth,

And ripen justice in this commonweal:

Then, if you will elect by my advice,

Crown him and say 'Long live our emperor!"

Tamora (queen of the Goths) has taken it upon herself to make Titus' life miserable due to the fact that she pleaded for her eldest son's life to be spared and Titus refused because he was always used to following protocol. His only daughter was raped and mutilated by Tamora's sons. He lost many sons during the war. He only had three left and two of them we framed for murder and beheaded by the evil deeds of Tamora and her lover Aaron the Moor. Titus at this point feels that all that he has accomplished has gone down the drain. His family has been destroyed because of his relentless attempts to follow the codes of proper behavior.

Titus feels as if all has been lost. Each new misfortune hits the aged, tired Titus with heavier impact. Eventually, he begins to act oddly and everyone assumes that he is crazy.

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