NOTE: Shakespeare is
slightly harder to read than Marlowe, so read the side notes carefully as you
go along. Often, a single metaphor can help you ‘paint’ the scene, so make sure
you understand the images and allusions Shakespeare writes into his characters’
lines. Try reading out loud if you have difficulty so you can hear the lines
and imagine how they should be spoken. Also note that the side notes summarize
each scene to give you the basic lay of the land.
Answer TWO of the
following:
Q1: Briefly discuss what
makes Shakespeare’s language (even in such an early play as this one) different
than Marlowe’s. Is it more difficult? More visual? More verbose? Most
beautiful? Less? Etc. Try to use a specific example to discuss this.
Q2: In many ways, this is
a play about the relationship between fathers/mothers and their children. How
do Titus and Tamora differ in their approach to these roles? Why might this be
problematic for a play where Titus is the supposed “hero” of the play and
Tamora the “villain”?
Q3: Remarkable for this
era, Shakespeare writes a scene between two women: Lavinia and Tamora (Act
2.3). In this scene, Lavinia is abducted by Tamora’s sons and on the verge of
being raped. Desperately, she appeals to a fellow woman who has undoubtedly
been brutalized in her own life. Why does this scene striker deeper than almost
anything in the play thus far? How does Tamora respond to her pleas? What makes
her eventually turn her back on Lavinia?
Q4: Titus is an odd
character, representing a strange notion of honor and loyalty. Why do you think
Shakespeare makes him refuse the emperorship, and then support Saturninus (who
has physically threatened him) over Bassianus (who has been much kinder)? How
are we supposed to respond as an audience to Titus in the First Act? Why might
this be?
Elyse Marquardt
ReplyDeleteQ2: Titus and Tamora are both parents to adult children, which makes it interesting to watch how they build relationships with these children. Their parenting styles are indeed drastically different. Titus sets himself up almost as the enemy to his sons, while Tamora--however villainous her actions may be--only wants to aid her sons in fulfilling their goals. Titus has stabbed one of his children to death in a fit of patriotic rage; Tamora has plotted with her children to find a fitting punishment for Titus, who also had one of her other sons put to death. It is hard to like either of these characters when the man has killed his own child and the woman is enabling rape. But from a parenting perspective, Tamora is definitely closer knit with her sons than Titus is with his sons.
Q3: This scene between Lavinia and Tamora is heartbreaking. Lavinia is about to lose her chastity to two foreign men, and their mother is encouraging them in their actions. This scene strikes so deep because it is one woman appealing to another on the behalf of her virginity--something that has a history of being viewed as almost supernaturally important to the female sex. Tamora may be shaken by this appeal, but ultimately she responds by condemning Lavinia to her sons' desires. Her reasons for this are that Titus slew one of her own sons; why should Titus not lose the purity and beauty of his only daughter? Tamora views this as just recompense for the loss of her child.
Elyse Marquardt
Great responses: I agree, Shakespeare makes sure we don't really like either character, but we respond deeper to Tamora's love for her children (gruesome as they are); in a way, Tamora becomes Grendel's mother from Beowulf--a monster, to be sure, but one that protects her own. Yet Titus is the true monster at first, since he would sacrifice anything or anyone for Rome--and Rome ultimately doesn't even value the sacrifice (shown again when Aaron snidely returns the hand he chopped off in ransom for his sons).
DeleteQ2: Titus is very controlling of his children and values his reputation and honor to the emperor more than to his children. Tamora is very supportive of her children and values their success, whether min the rape of Lavinia or in life. These two parents are rather contrasting in the ways in which they use their children. Titus wants his children to do what he wants to better the name of Andronicus. Tamora, on the other hand, wants her children to succeed so they will gain more power.
ReplyDeleteQ3: Lavinia's plea to Tamora is so innocence and one that hits at the heart of woman kind. She cries out for Tamora to call off their sons from the rape by appealing to the largely held chastity views of the time, woman should be chaste until marriage and engaging in sex outside marriage destroys a woman. Tamora eventually completely turns her back on Lavinia because she sees that Lavinia is more fair and more pure then herself, in other words envy and wrath. This scene is so moving because Tamora is to blame for the destruction of innocence in Lavinia. Womanhood is completely on Tamora's back burner being over shadowed by her anger and vengeful nature.
Great responses...do you think Tamora damns her because she knows Lavinia is more pure/fair, or simply because she dares to suggest that her father (Titus) saved her life? I think we can argue that Tamora almost wants to spare her, and is willing to talk with her (though she's trying not to) until this moment. But even Lavinia emerges as a little snide in Act 2 when she publicly shames Tamora. So we could argue that she's pure simply by virtue of being Roman...were she a Goth, she would be no different than Tamora. It's almost a racial issue here, much as it is with Aaron's son in Act 4.
Delete2. Titus and Tamora have very different parenting techniques, however, they both may be equally as harmful to their children. Titus is ruthless with his children, setting strict rules and guidelines for them to follow, and constantly putting them back in their place if they misstep. He is extremely concerned with the reputation of himself and his devotion to the emperor. His strict actions and hot temper may affect his children’s loyalty to him, or maybe his understanding of them each as individuals. Tamora is very different from Titus, she is reassuring and constantly trying to help her children succeed and do great things. However, her love for them may cause them to be weaker or unprepared for people like Titus and his sons. It also causes her to condone in awful acts of hatred and violence, such as rape. I find it is extremely difficult to like either character as both seem to use their children in different ways.
ReplyDelete3. Tamora is blinded by revenge in this scene. As Lavinia pleads for her virginity, Tamora not only stands and does nothing to help the girl, but she even goes so far as to encourage her sons to rape the innocent girl. This scene disgusted me as we see a woman, who is being held hostage and about to be raped plead for her virginity, for the basic right to her own body. Up to this point I didn’t care for Tamora, but it is here that I really begin to hate her. Lavinia, being the only daughter of Titus, is suffering this horrid fate because Tamora seeks revenge for the death of one of her sons by Titus’s hand. Tamora’s willingness to let this happen just shows that this is a fight between herself and Titus and not that of their children.
2. Titus and Tamora have very different parenting techniques, however, they both may be equally as harmful to their children. Titus is ruthless with his children, setting strict rules and guidelines for them to follow, and constantly putting them back in their place if they misstep. He is extremely concerned with the reputation of himself and his devotion to the emperor. His strict actions and hot temper may affect his children’s loyalty to him, or maybe his understanding of them each as individuals. Tamora is very different from Titus, she is reassuring and constantly trying to help her children succeed and do great things. However, her love for them may cause them to be weaker or unprepared for people like Titus and his sons. It also causes her to condone in awful acts of hatred and violence, such as rape. I find it is extremely difficult to like either character as both seem to use their children in different ways.
ReplyDelete3. Tamora is blinded by revenge in this scene. As Lavinia pleads for her virginity, Tamora not only stands and does nothing to help the girl, but she even goes so far as to encourage her sons to rape the innocent girl. This scene disgusted me as we see a woman, who is being held hostage and about to be raped plead for her virginity, for the basic right to her own body. Up to this point I didn’t care for Tamora, but it is here that I really begin to hate her. Lavinia, being the only daughter of Titus, is suffering this horrid fate because Tamora seeks revenge for the death of one of her sons by Titus’s hand. Tamora’s willingness to let this happen just shows that this is a fight between herself and Titus and not that of their children.
Great responses: yes, both are terrible parents, one through too little indulgence, and the other from too much. Her sons are beasts, little benefiting from her love, whereas Titus' are simply sacrificed for the state (ironically, just as Titus sacrifices one of Tamora's sons). The question is, does Titus learn to be a good father when he loses almost everyone--and is left with a broken Lavinia? Can he protect her?
DeleteQ1: I would say that Shakespeare's language differs from Marlowe's in that it is definitely more colorful, and descriptive- but not in the traditional way. Shakespeare draws us pictures through metaphors and new words, whereas Marlowe was more apt to just tell us what happened in iambic pentameter. Through these metaphors we vibrantly see what is going on, but only if we pay close attention. Shakespeare and his incredible language are a lot harder to read because of the metaphors and intricate explanations. Marlowe uses the traditional syntax (most of the time) while Shakespeare tends to SHAKE (pun intended) it up; to make it fit into iambic pentameter, to draw in the audiences attention, and to dramatize the events.
ReplyDeleteQ2: In terms of parenthood, Tamora has definitely been the better figure, while Titus is cold and calculating and wants nothing more than the honor his children could potentially bring him. However, Titus is the "hero" because he won the war, and is- in general- a noble man. He doesn't kill all of Tamora's sons (which he could, and Lavinia would argue should, have done), and he has fought in a lot of Rome's wars, which shows unwavering loyalty to his kingdom. I think, if the book took place in a parallel universe, and Tamora had won the war, and had taken Titus- she would be considered the 'hero' , and would have been much kinder and more fitted to play that role.
Ha, yes, Shakespeare does "shake" it up, doesn't he? I think you're right, though; he wants to get his audiences' attention by creating a world through language that is more spectacular than anything they've seen before. For this reason, even small events become major attractions, and minor characters assume major importance. No wonder actors loved him so much--he gave all of them so much to do, and so much wonderful poetry!
DeleteQ1: Shakespeare uses much more complicated syntax, as well as an increased use of metaphors. This language feels more sophisticated than Marlowe’s more straightforward script. Shakespeare will use the same word multiple times, but each with a different meaning. Sometimes he would even invent a word because he felt that no existing word would suffice. This made Shakespeare’s language better suited to a higher-class audience, while Marlowe’s was better adapted for the general population.
ReplyDeleteQ2: Titus seems like a very strict father. He believes very strongly in retaining one’s honor, so much so, that he is willing to kill one of his sons. Some of his actions towards Tamora’s family have an emotionless quality, making it feel like Titus acts out of social necessity, rather than emotion. On the other hand, Tamora shows much more affection. She acts based on emotions such as love and revenge. This is odd because the two characters act almost the exact opposite of how one would expect them to, considering that Titus Is the protagonist, and Tamora is the antagonist. I feel like Titus is meant to be an “anti-hero”, much like the modern Batman. Perhaps he is supposed to be loved and hated simultaneously.
Good responses--but try to show an example on Q1 to illustrate how you read/see this. Where do we see more sophisticated language, especially since Marlowe can hold his own with the best of them. What makes Shakespeare stand out or simply sound unique on the page? While Marlowe could be followed a bit easier, note that Marlowe actually uses more Latin than Shakespeare does, and also makes more references to books and learning that only the upper classes would have. So it's interesting that Shakespeare still comes off as more 'learned.'
DeleteQ1: Shakespeare had a love for language that went, arguably, unmatched. With this love of language, he decided that he would not dilute it just so the people lacking proper education could understand and make sense of it. To do so would have meant that he would have risked sounding anything less than eloquent and moving. Marlowe, in contrast, delivered his words and poetry with a very altruistic approach, making sure that everyone could understand. Both Marlowe and Shakespeare’s writing is beautiful in their own way, but as far as word choice, use of imagery, and figurative language, Shakespeare far surpasses everyone else.
ReplyDeleteQ3: Lavinia is aware that everything is about to change drastically in her life. In that time, a young woman losing her virginity to anyone other than her husband was a blasphemous and despicable act. Lavinia did what any other woman would do, and tried (to put it lightly) to play the woman card on Tamora. It’s kind of like modern-day girl code. I believe if Tamora’s son had not have been killed by Titus, she would have sympathized with her, and let her go free. But since she saw Lavinia as her chance to get back at Titus, she felt that it simply had to be done. I believe she really did pity Lavinia, so much so that she could no longer listen to Lavinia’s pleas. She was probably reminded of something terrible that once happened to her. She did not, however, let Lavinia sway her decision.
Great responses: yes, this scene in Act 2 is amazing because it has two women squaring off on the stage, while the men are just window dressing. And as you say, she plays on the idea that both are women, too, and should ban together. And it almost works...but once she brings a man back into the equation (and Titus, at that) it falls apart. A very metaphorical moment.
Delete
ReplyDeleteQ1: The fact that Shakespeare never uses prose in Titus Andronicus is one of the biggest differences I noticed at first. Marlowe's work seems to be more realistic in its syntax, diction, and poetic form. Even though there are many scenes where Marlowe does employ beautiful poetic writing, his use of prose often makes the characters more relatable and realistic for the audience. Shakespeare on the other hand really displays his full artistic ability by his incredible poetic use of iabic pentameter. Overall, it almost adds a romanticized feel to the play, as if the audience has stepped into a fantasy world. Everything is embellished and dramatic, which gives the play this feeling of great importance and mystery.
Q2: Something I love about Shakespeare is that he is always questioning different roles in society, pushing them and stretching them to new limits. First of all, this makes his audience feel like they are seeing something unheard of or brand new, which is both thrilling and sometimes scandalous. It seems like Shakespeare enjoyed using cultural taboos to promote entertainment but also, I would like to believe he did this because he wanted to make people think about the rules of society which were usually followed without question or second thought. On paper, Titus seems to be the perfect hero to a story. He is a proud and noble man who places duty above all else. On the other hand, the "evil" woman Tamora would be your typical harlot woman whose lust for power will be her undoing. However, Shakespeare turns this on its head by showing Titus to be a heartless man in his mad pursuit of glory and honor, both of which, we could argue, are self serving goals. He wants to be honored, yes, but not for altruistic reasons. Ultimately he thinks only of himself, forsaking his own children (even killing them) in his desire to be remembered as one of the greatest generals Rome has ever known. Tamora is much easier to forgive as her actions have just cause. Not that I think her actions are right, but at least we can sympathize with her and understand that her motives are driven out of a deep hate for Titus, a hate that took root when Titus killed her son.
Great responses...yes, Shakespeare likes to show the ugliness of duty and the beauty of betrayal, so to speak. Tamora begins the play with our sympathy--our hearts cry out for her torture. And yet, she quickly becomes evil and sordid, even if we can somewhat excuse her motivation for doing so. Titus, on the other hand, is the hero who is totally repugnant; he can't place human life above honor and duty. And yet he, too, undergoes a transformation as we slowly begin to identify with his despair. That was the challenge for Shakespeare, to constantly take apart and put back together his characters--or sometimes, to leave them in pieces.
Delete1. Shakespeare REALLY loved using his command of the English language to the fullest extent, even if it meant that not everyone could follow what was going on. Why say "I'm going to kill a man" when you could make a soliloquy about how you've been wronged and how that man will soon get what's coming to him by the edge of your blade? He was very much for form over function. If he was a carpenter, he would rather hand carve a love seat from a single block of wood than to just hammer much smaller blocks for the frame.
ReplyDelete3. It strikes deep because Lavinia is begging for a kinder fate than the rape that is about to happen to Tamora, who is also a woman and understands on every level how bad this is. But Tamora is so deep in her scheme for revenge that she actively encourages it instead. Whether she knows it or not, Tamora has made the feud between more than just Titus and herself.
Kenia Starry
Great responses: yes, he is rarely happy with merely saying "Let us do this or that," but he wants to show it to the audience through language. He takes the verbal aspect of theater very seriously, and you can almost always tell a Shakespeare scene from another playwright's through the sheer elan of the language and how much he creates an entire world in a single speech (as in Aaron's first speech in Act 2).
DeleteQ1) I feel as if Shakespeare loved words more than a story. Where Marlowe - specifically in Doctor Faustus - sought to tell a story, make a point, and combined these two things with beautiful language, Shakespeare seeks to abandon a clear narrative in trade of gorgeous, melodic language that creates an image for his audience far beyond the stage or the pages of a book. While Shakespeare's narrative structure may collapse in on itself at times, his sheer pen for poetry acts as beams holding up the play as a whole. While history does repeat itself, and most general storylines that deal with good people vs. bad people and romance can be understood across a broad aray of generations, robust language and poetry lends itself even further into this broad spectrum creating room for Shakespeare's plays to live on past the works of some of his peers.
ReplyDeleteQ4) Titus rejects the emperorship because he loves his ideologies more than anything else. Saturninus is the only son of the late emperor of Rome and Titus is seeking to hold to the tradition despite the fact that Saturninus has threatened Titus and hasn't proven himself yet to be a good leader. I feel like we are supposed to respect Titus on some level for this, but also see the grave error in it. He's not out seeking a crown, but he isn't exactly seeking good for Rome either. Titus seems to only care for rules and facts rather than for ethics or emotions. This is what makes him so cold towards his family, leading in the death of so many of his sons.
Shelby Pletcher
Great responses...yes, Titus has given himself (and his children) bodily over to the Empire. So when it rejects him, he has nothing left, not even an identity, so he goes a bit mad like King Lear when his daughters abandon him. In many ways, this play is a trial run for Lear, echoing many of its themes and even language, suggesting the pet themes that Shakespeare would return to when he had full control over his materials.
DeleteDaniel Bonar
ReplyDeleteQ1: I would say that Shakespeare has more complex language than Marlowe because of the metaphors that he uses. This is not to say that Marlowe does not use metaphors, but the ones Shakespeare uses require more thought and education than the average metaphor. An example of this would be in act 1 when Titus gives his first speech where he references Pram, the King of Troy. If the reader or audience member is not familiar with Grecian mythology this reference will go unappreciated.
Q2: I think that Shakespeare chose to portray Titus in this manner so that the reader will see Titus as an emotionless honor bound cog in the Roman Empire. This will make any emotions that Titus does show much more noteworthy than other characters, and will also make Titus a character that the reader/ audience member can gage the severity of the situations with.
Good responses...yes, Titus begins the play as a 'cog' as you say, an unfeeling personification of imperial might. The play breaks him down and then asks the question, "if you are only your job/duty, what happens when you lose it? What is left?"
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