‘Titus Andronicus’ is believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare’s first tragedy and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries.
Titus, a general in the Roman army, presents Tamora, Queen of the Goths, as a slave to the new Roman emperor, Saturninus. Saturninus takes her as his wife. From this position, Tamora vows revenge against Titus for killing her son.
In ‘Titus Andronicus’ Shakespeare explores such themes as revenge, violence, language and communication, power, family, race and gender.
