Titus Andronicus

Early Modern London was home to a thriving, fast-paced theater culture, which emerged during Elizabeth I’s reign from a web of existing social and theatrical traditions. Titus Andronicus was written during this period, probably between 1588 and 1593.

The play has been subject to extensive debate, as its quality, meaning, genre, exact date, sources, and authorship have all been questioned. Shakespeare is generally accepted as the playwright, though some scholars suggest isolated scenes may have been contributed by another person, and some have queried its overall authorship. These authorship debates reflect that both thematically and content-wise, the play is distinct from the rest of Shakespeare’s canon, such as in its use of extensive violence. The play was initially well-received, but from the 17th century onwards, its reputation worsened, with commentators criticizing the play’s violence and lack of nuance. During the second half of the 20th century, its popularity gradually grew, both for performance and as a text for scholarly analysis. Its violent elements were often reinterpreted as literary devices that actively explore genre and theme.

The play’s genre and its interaction with Elizabethan theatrical convention is a common topic of debate. It is generally categorized as a