Titus Andronicus - Act III, Scene ii, Lines 53-80

The Behavior Of Titus Andronicus In Act III, Scene ii, Lines 53-80

In this part of the play, we encounter the intense inner struggle of Titus Andronicus and the extent to which his hardship and anguish have affected his perception and behavior. The need for revenge has reached an extreme level, very close to madness, expressed by his ever-changing mood and inadequate way of reasoning. Shakespeare further develops the character of Titus, adding new features, achieving a remarkable evolution that presents us with an interesting personality and mentality.

The reactions of Titus are a consequence of this gradual formation of the character. From the very beginning Titus kills one of his sons unscrupulously (I.i.292) and even if we assert that the state stands before his family, his behavior in this case is unjustified by the hasty and thoughtless manner in which he stabs Mitius. This particular scene is indicative of the whimsical and unsteady nature of Andronicus. This notion is enhanced by the following actions in the play and we realize that his reason is easily obscured by rage and prejudice. It is logical that after the heinous act done with his daughter, he is no longer capable of accepting the loss and humiliation, and his decisions become more and more unreasonable and inconsistent. The "black Moor" manages easily to take advantage of the created situation and weakness of Titus, to cut his hand off. Having in mind the scene when he sees the messenger with the two heads of his innocent sons and his own hand (III.i.234) revenge will inevitably become the driving force in Titus' actions from now on.

The motivation of Andronicus' conduct after Marcus kills the fly is understandable because of the ...

... middle of paper ...

...emies is the need for retribution. He is the moral winner in Shakespeare's habitual combat between the good and the evil. Although the conflict is dramatized to the maximum, often excessively, the playwright has succeeded in creating an interesting and versatile character, achieved through a continuous but uneven evolution in his behavior. This unpredictable behavior adds to the uniqueness and value of the whole work. The author has emphasized on the conduct of his characters and has paid much less attention to their spiritual and mental side. We can judge for those qualities from their behavior. This is what makes this particular play of Shakespeare very close to the contemporary works--the emphasis on action and the incorporation of violent and taboo themes that would attract the interest of the viewers and eventually create a powerful impact on their insight.