A good strong play – the lines of conflict are clear, the story works, the characters defined. Tamora is another great early female role; Aaron, the Queens’as lover, is a strong black role – villainous to be sure, but sexy and smart. It's a full on play: Titus is a top general who thinks he’s going to be the Emperor’s father in law, only his daughter runs off with the Emperor’s brother instead – causing the Emperor to marry the Queen of the Goths. Titus’s daughter is raped and has her hands cut off and tongue removed, while her husband is killed. Titus’s sons are blamed and executed; Titus offers up a hand to save them but it’s not taken. You feel sorry for Titus but then he kills his own daughter for being raped.
Shakespeare was probably going through an anti woman phase at this stage – taming Kate, raping pretty things, etc. Characters aren’t hugely deep and everyone is this pulsating mass of viciousness – Temora, Aaron. I think the fact this is not set in England meant Shakespeare didn’t have to worry about politics as much – no one had to be patriotic, everyone is ruthless. I’m surprised this isn’t better known - probably because of the violence.
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