The theme of revenge in William Shakespeare's titus andronicus

Abstract AR

The word "revenge" is known all over the world from remote periods till nowadays either from radio, movies, people, or other sources.

Because people cannot always take vengeance, they like to see it played out in the forms of entertainment such as books, films, and plays ; and Shakespeare's plays are prominent in this province.

In most of the plays written by William Shakespeare, there is always some act of revenge and Titus Andronicus (1593-1594) is no exception.

Since revenge is the major theme of Titus Andronicus, the study is an attempt to discuss this theme in this play.

The study deals with the definition of revenge, its features, and Seneca's influence on Elizabethan revenge writers in general and on William Shakespeare in particular on the one hand, and the influence of Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy and Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta on the other hand.

Then, it shows the cases Shakespeare chooses to present the theme of revenge in Titus Andronicus.

Finally, the study sheds light on the consequences of revenge and its effects on the human nature on the one hand, and its effects on the transformation of the nature of the characters of the play on the other hand.

The study ends with Notes and a Bibliography.