Monday, March 27, 2006

Reading

• Titus Andronicus, Acts 1–2

Notes

We begin Titus Andronicus. Please prepare acts 1 and 2 for class. As you read, recall how Iago and Richard use politics and rhetoric to manipulate others for their own ends. Their techniques will operate in contrast to Titus’ work; indeed, we could think of Titus Andronicus as a play that tells the other side of such “manipulation plays” as Othello and Richard III.

In some ways, Titus Andronicus will pose a challenge for us. The play is set during the Roman Empire — and therefore may be considered with Antony and Cleopatra, Julius Caesar, and Coriolanus, for example. At the same time, however, Titus Andronicus is more a revenge tragedy than anything else. It is a brutal nightmare of a play, as we’ll certainly see. Figuring out what to make of it will be more than half the fun.

Over the weekend I’ll be posting the quotation sheet for Titus Andronicus, as well as instructions for the upcoming essay assignment. I’ll be bringing paper copies of the essay assignment to class on Monday.