Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. The play is set in ancient Rome and tells the story of Titus Andronicus a noble and respected general who returns to Rome after a ten-year war against the Goths. The play begins with Titus returning to Rome bringing with him prisoners from the war including Tamora the Queen of the Goths and her three sons. Titus is then drawn into a cycle of revenge and violence as he seeks to avenge the death of his sons at the hands of Tamoras sons who have been made into pies and served to him as a cruel joke. Tamora in turn seeks revenge on Titus and his family leading to a series of gruesome and tragic events. Titus Andronicus is known for its violent and bloody scenes and its exploration of revenge justice and the nature of evil. It was one of Shakespeares earliest plays and is believed to have been influenced by the works of the Roman playwrights Seneca and Plautus. While the play was not well-received during Shakespeares lifetime it has since been reevaluated and is now considered an important work in the Shakespearean canon.