What is Titus Andronicus?

Titus Andronicus was one of the earliest tragedies by William Shakespeare, probably written between 1589 and 1593 and first performed in 1594.

Why is Titus Andronicus important?

According to scholars like Harold Bloom, the play Titus Andronicus was important for allowing William Shakespeare to move beyond the influence of contemporaries like Christopher Marlowe and Thomas Kyd and to find his own style.

Where does Titus Andronicus take place?

The play Titus Andronicus takes place in Ancient Rome; however, the characters are all fictional, and it is the only one of Shakespeare's Roman plays that is not based on historical or semi-historical events.

Titus Andronicus Timeline: Shakespeare's Bloodiest Play

Definition

Titus Andronicus is the earliest tragedy by William Shakespeare (l. c.1564-1616), probably written sometime between 1589 and 1593, and first performed in 1594. Infamous for its gratuitous violence and two-dimensional characters, Titus Andronicus is quite different from Shakespeare's other works – indeed, although it was initially quite popular with Elizabethan audiences, it has since become regarded as his least esteemed play.

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