As part of my remedial accumulation of cultural capital, I’m reading the 21 plays outa 37 by Bill Shakespeare where I currently rate my knowledge at Zero. Read more here if you can be bothered (but WHY?).
First up, Titus Andronicus. [Wikipedia]
Year written: 1592? 1593?
Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was responding to): He was starting out – maybe it was co-authored? These may explain the dodgy quality (or maybe it was an elaborate piss-take, like that Eric Ambler one – Journey into Fear – that people read ‘straight’ instead of as a parody? Yes, these blog posts are going to be full of these random digressions. You at least, reader, can close the tab…) A piss-take of what, you ask? Of the Revenger Jacobean Tragedies, as per Thomas Kyd.
Plot in a paragraph: Esteemed Roman general Titus Andronicus has a stick up his ass and makes several poor decisions (including killing one of his own sons). There’s a Black Villain (Aaron the Moor – the character does for Islam [Update: Sigh. Set in Rome, hundreds of years before Islam was a thing. I must have conflated with Othello/Spain? idk, whatever, I was wrong] blackness what Shylock does for Judaism) performing black deeds and getting the best lines. People get raped and mutilated (tongue cut out, hands chopped off) framed and executed, banished. There’s treason and treachery. In the end, the body count is huge. Somebody inadvertently (spoilers) eats their sons. Like a Seinfeld episode, no hugging, no learning.
Things that worked well: Aaron the Moor’s defiance (“I wish I could have lived longer to do more evil, mofos. Bwahahaha.”)
Things that didn’t work well: Pretty much everything else. I am with TS Eliot, who said it was “one of the most stupid and uninspired plays ever written.”
Words I learnt:
| palfrey | a docile horse used for ordinary riding, especially by women |
| maugre | in spite of; notwithstanding |
| gramercy | Gramercy means ‘many thanks’. It is derived from the French term grand merci, meaning ‘big thanks’ which is still in use in south of France’s Provençal language as ‘gramerci’. |
Lines worth knowing:
“sweet mercy’s nobility’s true badge.”
“And at my suit, sweet pardon what is past”
“advanced above pale envy’s threatening reach.”
“let fools do good and fair men call for grace.”
“an idiot keeps his bauble for a god”
Marc’s entirely subjective verdict and score out of 5 bards (ymmv): One
Will I be tracking down movies of this? : yes, no, hell no.- yeah, the 1999 Anthony Hopkins film might be okay.
How far would I travel to see a good production of this? One mile? “If it’s not in Stone, you’re on your own.” Though the Grauniad likes the RSC one on at the moment.
Update with podcasts to follow…
This morning (May 19) listened to three podcast episodes about Titus Andronicus, and tbh, that’s probably enough
The History of European Theatre 135: Titus Andronicus: ‘Vengeance Is In My Heart, Death In My Hand’
This is probably the best/most comprehensive of the three (but you should defo listen to the others too).
Black Lives Matter in Titus Andronicus | Folger Shakespeare Library
Dr. David Sterling Brown is a professor of English, General Literature and Rhetoric at Binghamton University/State University of New Yor
Shakespeare Anyone: Titus Andronicus: Stuff to Chew On — Shakespeare Anyone?
And others I may yet download and listen to –
The History of European Theatre 136
Words, Language and Actions in ‘Titus Andronicus’: A Conversation with Eleanor Conlon.
Shakespeare Anyone
Titus Andronicus: Trauma in Shakespeare and Early Modern Theatre
Titus Andronicus: Cannibalism and the Dangers of Hospitality in Early Modern England with Carson …
Updates – And two limericks!
A Roman general called Titus
To Revenge doth he invite us.
From Aaron the Moor
We get loads of gore.
And both say, “‘mercy?’ you can bite us.”
and
And “Titus” is like smoking the meth
Amidst crimes that take all your breath
And poor Lavinia
Her arc too linear,
From virgin to handless to death.
marchudson.net 
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