Shakespeare’s tragedies

1. Shakespeare’s tragedies Merlyn Mannov XI A

2. Titus Andronicus (the bloodiest) • Romeo and Juliet ( one of the Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and his most frequently performed plays) • Hamlet(one of his most frequently performed plays) • Othello • Macbeth(one of his most frequently performed plays) • King Lear (the most tragic of Shakespeare’s tragedies) • Antony and Cleopatra • Timon of Athens (the least known of Shakespeare’s tragedy) • Troilus and Cressida

11. “Heart” tragedies • Love tragedies • Involve a pair of lovers torn apart by fate and society • The main characters are pawns pulled along toward death or permanent separation • Romeo and Juliet • Antony and Cleopatra • Othello

12. “Head” tragedies • Defined by their relationship to Greek philosopher Aristotle’s theories of dramatic tragedy • They feature a fatally-flawed protagonist fully capable of free will who unfortunately has his good traits overcome by ego. • Titus Andronicus • Hamlet • Macbeth • King Lear • Timon of Athens

13. The hero • Not villain or saint but generally a good person destroyed by his own ego or fate • Capable of both good and evil • With opportunities for redemption, but never is able to take them in time, leading almost always to death.

14. Titus Andronicus • Shakespeare’s earliest tragedy (written in the 1590s) • The bloodiest of his tragedies

15. Titus • General of Rome and tragic hero of the play • Father of Lavinia and Lucius • Has spent the last ten years fighting Rome's enemies and winning honor for his country • Russell Roberts as Titus

16. Tamora • Queen of the Goths • Mother of Chiron and Demetrius • Associated with barbarism, savagery, and unrestrained lasciviousness • Encourages her sons to rape Titus’ daughter Lavinia

17. Aaron • Tamora's Moorish lover • ConvincesTamora’s remaining sons to rape and mutilate Titus’s daughter Lavinia • When 2 of Titus’ sons were imprisonedAaron told Tamora to tell Titus that if he would cut off his own hand she would set his sons free • He was buried chest-deep and left to die of thirst and starvation

18. Lavinia • The only daughter of Titus Andronicus • SpurnsSaturninus's offer to make her his empress because she is in love with Bassianus • She is brutally raped and disfigured by Chiron and Demetrius

19. Marcus Andronicus • Roman Tribune of the People • Brother of Titus Andronicus • Calm Marcus, Lavinia, Titus

20. Saturninus • The eldest son of the late Emperor of Rome • Titus successfully advocates for him to be the new emperor • Chooses Tamora for his empress • Saturninus and Tamora

21. Bassianus • The younger brother of Saturninus • He steals her away when Saturninus wants to make her his empress • Murdered by Chiron and Demetrius

22. Lucius • Titus's only surviving son • Defends his sister, Lavinia, from their father after she runs away with Bassianus • Tries to free his captive brothers Quintus and Martius, for which he is banished from Rome • Moves from bloodthirsty youth to sober leader

23. Chiron and Demetrius • Sons of Tamora • Two Goth princes • They murder Bassianus and then brutally rape and disfigure Lavinia • Killed by Titus

24. Thank you for your attention!