The opening scene of any play sets the story and if done correctly, gives the audience a good idea of what the play will contain. In Shakespeare's first tragedy, Titus Andronicus, the opening scene introduces three major themes; control, war and the promise of revenge. By various behavior, characters through the use of imagery and detail show these and how they can effect many individuals.
Titus returns from war, bringing the Queen of the Goths and her three sons as prisoners. We can see his upheld morals, values and dedication to his country by this. Titus addresses the Roman people telling them of his years as a soldier and how war has changed his life. This monologue uses bloody images and strong language that impacts both the audience and Titus' speech emotionally. Some audiences may think that Titus is unaware of the true value of power as well as the cost of war, but others see his want and need to be in power. Titus' emotions and values in the first scene leave his character up to individual audience judgement, leaving more room for interpretation as the play goes on.
The Roman people still call for bloodshed and the death of the remaining prisoners. Titus protests, but must comply to avoid a riot by his own people. He slays one of Tamora's sons setting a cycle of revenge in motion. His actions set all the characters to get their own revenge by slaying and harming each other. Shakespeare's attention to individual detail shows how each character has "gone wrong" after having wrong done to them. Each case of revenge gives the characters new determination and raises the question of why Shakespeare used so much violence in his play and what is its effect on the meaning.
The plays struggles of the human power vs. human emotions brings the themes of control, war and revenge to the stage in a whole new way that is clearly one of Shakespeare's own creation.
2 comments:
I am slightly confused by the second half of your thesis " these themes are shown through people who don't quite know what they're capable of". Is this a theme of the drama? I think that if you cleared this part of you thesis up the essay would become very clear. You show well the 3 themes that are introduced but again you may want to add more analysis along with the heavy textual examples. By analysis I mean you describing how these are major themes of the drama.
Your thesis here was not as clear as in your other prompts. although I think I understand what you are trying to say, some of your wording is distracting. you also included more plot summary than I thought was necessary, try replacing it with more analytical commentary. also remember that your intro sentences should bea part of your theis.
Post a Comment