Born April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire (with a population of 1500 people and only 200 houses), William Shakespeare was the third child of John and Mary (Arden) Shakespeare, but the first son, and the first child to survive past infancy. The local parish register records his baptism on 26 April 1564. While his actual birthday is unknown, most celebrate it on 23 April because it was customary to have roughly three days between birth and the ceremony. It is important to note that Stratford was a market center for the county of Warwickshire in the heartland of England.
John Shakespeare was a glove-maker, wool dealer, and leather craftsman who also held a number of public offices including bailiff, which was the highest public office in Stratford. When Will was 13, his father experienced a great financial loss and stopped playing a major part in local government. His situation eventually improved in 1596 and remained stable until his death in 1601. Mary Shakespeare was the daughter of a moneyed landowner in a lesser branch of an aristocratic family. We know little of her as only the date of her burial (9 September 1608) is recorded. Shakespeare had several siblings: Joan, Margaret, (William), Gilbert, Joan, Anne, Richard, and Edmund.
As the son of a city official, Will was eligible to attend junior school and then King Edward IV’s New School at no cost. The curriculum included Latin literature, Greek, grammar, arithmetic, and declamation and rhetoric. Moreover, under the Act of Uniformity (compulsory church attendance), Shakespeare’s education would have centered upon the Homilies (core Anglican teachings), the Geneva Bible, and the Book of Common Prayer, all of which were in English and stressed the teachings of the Church of England. If John’s finances had not evaporated, the completion of this schooling would have made Will eligible for either Oxford or Cambridge. He did not attend either, leaving school at age fourteen or fifteen.
At age eighteen, Will married Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years his senior. Their first child Susanna was born 26 May 1583. Twins Hamnet and Judith came two years later. William Shakespeare disappears from all records until 1592. These are known as the “Lost Years.” It appears, though, that Shakespeare headed to London around 1588 to establish himself as a writer and performer. Shakespeare rose to star status quickly. He joined the Lord Chamberlin’s Men, becoming a shareholder and senior member in 1595. Because of this, he was able to purchase New Place, the largest and most elegant house in Stratford, when he was in his early thirties. He eventually retired there, dying 23 April 1616. Not until 1623 did John Heminges and Henry Condell print the First Folio of his plays, many of which had never been circulated in print.
When Titus Andronicus premiered in 1594 the dramatic loss of life due to the “Black Death” was still fresh in the minds of Londoners, especially concerning familial preservation and propagation through children. Take note of how issues of vengeance work to serve and protect both family honor and the children which will carry that honor into the future.
Saturninus and Bassianus, competing heirs to the Roman emperorship, are rallying their supporters when a victorious Titus Andronicus returns home, bearing the spoils of a war waged against the “barbaric” Goths. When he sacrifices the eldest son of Tamora, (captured Queen of the Goths) as payment for the death of his sons, she vows revenge.
Titus is nominated for the emperorship by his brother Marcus, a respected representative of Rome. Titus declines and lends his support to Saturninus. To guarantee his base of power, Saturninus vows to marry Titus’s beloved daughter Lavinia. She is, however, already betrothed to Bassianus. With help from Titus’ sons, Bassianus and Lavinia escape together. Saturninus decides to take Tamora as his Empress.
Tamora’s Moorish lover, Aaron, urges her sons Chiron and Demetrius to kill Bassianus and rape Lavinia. Aaron plots to falsely implicate two of Titus’ sons in the death of Bassianus. As they are led to their deaths, Aaron promises Titus that his sons can be saved if he will sacrifice his hand. Titus consents, only to have his hand and the heads of his innocent sons returned to him minutes later. He vows revenge and his remaining son Lucius goes off to raise an army.
Tamora gives birth to Aaron’s son. Demetrius and Chiron, fearing retribution from Saturninus, attempt save their mother by killing the baby. Aaron escapes with it and returns to the Goths.
Saturninus is threatened with news that Lucius has amassed an army and is headed for Rome. Tamora promises Saturninus that she will use Titus to lure Lucius to a parley where the Andronici can be killed.
Titus uses his supposed madness to outwit Tamora and lures her sons to a horrible death. He invites Tamora and Saturninus to dinner, where he serves them a pie with the sons baked inside. After he has revealed his triumph over Tamora, Titus kills her. Saturninus kills Titus and Lucius revenges his death by killing Saturninus. Lucius is made Emperor of Rome.
I.i. Rome, Before the capital
II.i. Rome, Before the capital
II.ii. A forest near Rome
II.iii. A lonely part of the forest
II.iv. Another part of the forest
III.i. Rome, A street
ACT BREAK
III.ii. Rome, Titus’ Garden
IV.i. Rome, Titus’ Garden
IV.ii. Rome, The Palace
IV.iii. Rome, Outside the Palace
IV.iv. Rome, The Palace
V.i. Plains near Rome
V.ii. Rome, Titus’ house
V.iii. Rome, Titus’ house
