Shakespeare Summarized: Titus Andronicus

Summary

The video script provides a humorous and graphic overview of Shakespeare's lesser-known play, 'Titus Andronicus'. It describes the play as extremely gory, even by Shakespeare's standards, and questions the authorship due to its brutality. The summary outlines the play's plot, which revolves around a blood feud between Roman General Titus Andronicus and Goth Queen Tamora, filled with revenge, murder, and dismemberment. The video also humorously discusses the play's contribution to society, highlighting the original 'Yo mama' joke. It concludes with the play's chaotic ending, where Titus exacts his revenge in a gruesome manner, leading to a new emperor and a resolution to the violence.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker uses Macbeth as a benchmark to measure the gore level in Shakespeare's plays, with Romeo and Juliet rated at 4 and Hamlet at 9 on a scale of 1 to Macbeth.
• 🎭 'Titus Andronicus' is considered by some as the most gory and disturbing of Shakespeare's works, leading to questions about its authorship.
• 🤔 There are speculations that 'Titus Andronicus' might be Shakespeare's first tragedy, possibly co-written with George Peele, and an emulation of the popular revenge plays of the time.
• 🏺 The play revolves around a blood feud between Roman General Titus Andronicus and Goth Queen Tamora, with a series of brutal acts and revenge.
• ⛰️ After returning from war, Titus Andronicus refuses to become Emperor and instead supports Saturninus, leading to a chain of tragic events involving his family.
• 🗡️ Titus's decision to kill Tamora's son Alarbus ignites a cycle of violence and retribution that drives the plot of the play.
• 👥 Saturninus's impulsive marriage to Tamora, despite initial intentions to marry Titus's daughter Lavinia, sets the stage for further conflict.
• 🏥 Lavinia's brutal assault and mutilation serve as a pivotal moment in the play, highlighting the extreme violence and the lengths to which characters will go for revenge.
• 👶 The birth of Tamora's child, who appears to be fathered by Aaron, a Moor, adds a layer of complexity to the plot and the characters' motivations.
• 🏰 Lucius, Titus's remaining son, raises an army to avenge his family, leading to a climax where Titus exacts his revenge in a gruesome manner.
• 🍽️ The play concludes with a shocking and ironic 'reconciliation' banquet, where Titus serves his enemies in a most literal sense.
• 🎉 Lucius becomes Emperor, and Aaron is executed, marking the end of the cycle of violence and the rise of a new era.

Q & A

What scale does the speaker use to measure the goriness of various texts?

The speaker uses a scale from 1 to Macbeth to measure the goriness of texts, with Macbeth being the most gory.

Why do some people question if Shakespeare actually wrote Titus Andronicus?

Some people question Shakespeare's authorship because of the play's extreme gore and the stark contrast it presents to his other works.

What are the three mitigating factors mentioned for the play's content?

The mitigating factors are: it might be Shakespeare's first tragedy, he may have collaborated with George Peele known for gory plays, and he was likely emulating the popular revenge plays of the time.

Who are the main characters in the blood feud depicted in Titus Andronicus?

The main characters in the blood feud are Roman general Titus Andronicus and Goth queen Tamora.

Why does Titus decide to kill one of the Goth prisoners upon his return from the war?

Titus decides to kill Alarbus, the eldest son of Queen Tamora, as a form of retribution for the death of his own sons in the war.

What drastic action does Saturninus take out of spite for Titus?

Saturninus marries Tamora on the spot, after initially intending to marry Titus's daughter, Lavinia.

What is the significance of Lavinia's method of communication after her mutilation?

Lavinia uses Ovid's Metamorphoses and writing with a stick in the dirt to reveal the names of her attackers, Chiron and Demetrius.

How does Aaron, a Moor with an intimate relationship with Tamora, contribute to the plot?

Aaron helps Tamora's sons, Demetrius and Chiron, in their plot against Lavinia and later reveals the revenge plot under threat to his own child.

What is the original 'Yo mama' joke mentioned in the script?

The original 'Yo mama' joke is a line spoken by Demetrius and Chiron after they have wronged Tamora, with the lines 'Villain what hast thou done?' 'That which thou can'st not undo.' 'Thou hast undone done our mother!' 'Villain, I have done, thy mother!'

How does Titus exact his revenge on Demetrius and Chiron?

Titus captures Demetrius and Chiron, slits their throats, and drains their blood into a basin held by Lavinia.

What is the final outcome for the characters in the play?

Lucius becomes Emperor, Aaron is executed, and the play ends with a sense of resolution and public satisfaction.

Why does the speaker initially believe that Titus Andronicus contributed nothing to society?

The speaker initially believes the play to be a relic from a gorier time and an embarrassing first play from a writer who hadn't yet grown into his style.