Titus Andronicus is one of Shakespeare's earliest plays. It focuses upon the ideas
             of revenge, specifically how a man will react when pushed too far. The play reads like a
             horror film in many ways with overtly gratuitous violence plaguing almost every scene.
             The damages that are inflicted upon Titus' are of such an extreme nature that it can be
             hard to believe at times. Disembowelment and murder are almost the norm for the play.
             As the play opens the audience is introduced to Titus who is a classic
             Shakespearean protagonist. He is a mighty war hero who has just finished fighting a war
             against the Goths. He is respected and feared. Like many of Shakespeare's characters he
             seems a perfect hero though he does possess a few flaws. He opens with a speech
             declaring his happiness that the war is over despite the losses of his sons it seems that he
             is ready to put the violence behind him. Yet in within the very next scene he calls forth
             his prisoners who include Tamora, Chiron, Demetrius, and Alarbus. He gives a speech
             declaring the need for Alarbus' sacrifice to satisfy the ghosts of his fallen sons. He
             ignores the pleas of Tamora for the life of her son and orders Alarbus to be executed.
             However, this is not a clean execution, Alarbus' limbs are cut off and his entrails
             removed to feed a sacrificial flame. By marking Alarbus for death as he has, Titus has
             marked himself for tragedy. Tamora at this moment swears revenge on Titus no matter
             After this we are introduced to some of the other key players such as Saturninus,
             Bassianus, Marcus Andronicus, Aaron the Moor, and of course Lavinia. Saturninus and
             Bassianus are brothers who both want to rule over Rome. They also appear to be polar
             opposites, Saturninus is one who desires power in any way possible whether it is given to
             him or he takes it. Bassianus on the other hand is one who despite is desire for...