Power in Titus Andronicus - Essay Example

Name Institution Professor Date Titus Andronicus Power Introduction Power is defined as the capacity to drive things in a particular desirable direction. It is a position that enables the subject to exert force or influence and make things happen according to their liking. Power can be physical ability, mechanical force, law or other positions. It can be used wisely or misused. However, whoever has it has control over many aspects of people lives. Power is a major theme in Titus Andronicus. This is evident even from the beginning of the tragedy play by William Shakespeare. Power in Titus Andronicus From the beginning of the play, it is clear that the characters in Rome understand the importance and advantages of were. It is observed that the emperor of Rome has just died and his sons Saturninus and Bassianus are struggling for power. Each of them wants to ascend to the throne their father has left behind. While Saturninus deserves the throne as the first born, Bassianus deserves it for his virtues and honesty. The struggle for the power can only be settled by the people who have the power to elect a person to power. As indicated power is apposition enabling a person or group to make things go according to their direction?Hence the people of Rome exercise their power and put Titus Andronicusin power. Once the people transfer the power to Titus he passes it on to Saturninus (Shakespeare, William, and J C. Maxwell, 10). Titus seems to be more concern and proud of his physical power. He believes in his physical power especially because of his triumph in the war against the Goths. His value of power is indicated in the ten years he spent away from Rome waging the war. The prisoner Titus brings with him from war is major proof for his power. He is able to bring home Tamora the queen of the Goths, her sons and her lover. Up to this point in the play, we can see the importance and types of power in this play. Although Marcus is the first to exercise his power by announcing the people’s choice for emperor; the next exercise of power sparks a feud that goes on for the rest of the play without seizing. This is the exercise of Titus physical power. Despite pleas and cries from Tamora, Titus kills her first born son. This action he claims is a sacrifice for the sons he lost during the ten year war he waged against the Goths. This is the first show of misuse for power in the play. Clearly Titus is a general of Rome. He is well respected and his power hails from the respect granted to him by Rome for his victory against the GothTamora on the other hand has lost her power. She has been stripped from the position of queen and her kingdom is destroyed. Now she is a mere prisoner whose fate lies in the hands of those with power. It is for this reason that she is unable to prevent the death of her son. Titus on the other hand is in a position of power and is of the knowledge that Tamora has no power to question him or harm him. Therefore he comfortably kills the son of Tamora. This incident marks the beginning of a revenge battle between Tamora and Titus. It also demonstrates Titus misuse of physical, social and political power. Since he gives his emperor powers to Saturninus, and his brother is tribune, they do not question him. The society fails to question his immoral acts because they feel he is justified to avenge his sons. Also they are in no position of power to punish him. His popularity as a war hero and command as a general allow him to walk scot free. Saturninus returns Titusfavor of the emperor’s throne by offering to marry his daughter. Unfortunately Livinia is betrothed to Bassianus. However, this does not matter since Titus and Saturninus are in positions of power. In his position of power as the head of his house, Titus attempts to force Livinia to marry Saturninus(Shakespeare, William, and J C. Maxwell, 14). Luckily Livinia has the support of her brothers in marrying Bassianus.Titus being aware of his physical power tries to use it to force Livinia to marry the new emperor. Unfortunately his misuse of physical power costs him his son whom he accidentally kills. Power is a gift that the characters in this play are not afraid to use for their own good. To Titus surprise Sarturninus marries the Goth queen. The Sarturninus position as emperor gives him the power to have the woman of his pick. With the humiliation he undergoes with Livinia he decides to marry the Goth queen, Tamora. His power makes him betray the man who gave him the power of emperor. He releases one of Titus major enemy and makes her queen hence putting her in a position of power. Tamora is probably the most powerful person in the play. This is because Tamora thirsts a position of power to enable her avenge her son’s death. Her beauty and sexuality enable her to gain control of Sarturninus with extreme ease. Tamorais demonstrates the most abuse of power among all the characters in the play. This is especially in her quest to avenge the death of her son. Tamora is ready to do anything to protect the newly found power as empress. It is for this reason that she wants Bassianus and Livinia dead after they find her making love to Aaron. It would stain her image and make her loose her power as empress if the emperor found out of her rendezvous with her lover Aaron. Having out numbered Bassianus, Chiron and Demetrius stab him to death. Still demonstrating their physical strength they rape Livinia and mutilate her tongue as well as her hands(Shakespeare, William, and J C. Maxwell,1 8). The use of power in the case of Tamora is driven by revenge. Power is not only found in muscle and law but also I the mind. Hence the saying the pen is mightier than the sword. Chiron and Demetrius dump Bassianus body in a whole. This is followed by Aarons luring of Titus sons, Quintusand Martius to the whole where Bassianus body is dumped. After Quintus and Martius fall into the pit, Sartunius is led to the same pit. He is then handed a letter by Tamora which indicates that Martius and Quintus were scheming to kill his brother. He is also given evidence of gold that they planned to pay a huntsman for the murder. The gold and the letter however had been earlier planted by Aaron. Sarturninus uses his position of power to seek justice for the death of his brother. Despite the efforts of Titus to save his sons, they are sentenced to death. Although Sarturninus uses his power to bring justice, he was merely used to wage a war of revenge. Tamora exercised the power she had over him to believe her story and arrest Titus sons. Titus now understands that power does not always concern physical strength. The judges that execute his sons are under the authority andpower of Sarturninus who seeks to avenge the death of his brother. Titus mourns his sons and loses his power of reason. At this time Aaron who now has a position of power due to Tamora’s elevation to empress arrives at Titus house (Croteau, Melissa, and Carolyn Jess-Cooke, 10). He tricks him into chopping his hand off, by giving him a false message from the king. Aaron abuses his power and that of the king as he seeks revenge. The empress and his lover take advantage of the emperor and use his power to get revenge. MeanwhileTitus loses all his power due to the grief for his sons and the loss of his hand. Tamora assumes that Titus is mentally ill due to the death of his sons. She therefore assumes that she has power over his faculties. Tamora and her sons dress as sprits; revenge, rape and murder. Revenge persuades Titus to ask his son luscious to meet with the king. Her plan is to destroy the army of Goths that luscious has risen to attack Rome. However, Titus is using his power of mind. He plays along Tamora’s plan but requests for revenge and murder to remain with him. The exit of Tamora is followed by the murder of her sons by Titus and his kinsmen (Shakespeare, William, and J C. Maxwell, 18). Their bones and blood are used by Titus to prepare food for the emperor and empress. The banquet ends up a disaster since Titus kills the empress and the emperor kills him. Luscious then kills the emperor. Luscious is crowned emperor at the end of the play. Tamora wanted power to avenge the death of her son. Her drunkenness of power caused the destruction of her and all her sons. Titus also aided the destruction of his family when he killed Tamora’s firstborn son. Sarturninus though hungry for power executed it with no wisdom. Tamora and Titus both misappropriated the power they had and compromised their families. Power was the main furnace that propelled the war of retribution in the play. Relevance of Titus Andronicus in the 21st century The play of Titus Andronicus is relevant to the twenty first century from some aspects. The story demonstrates the impact that revenge has on people’s lives. As the saying goes, if you seek revenge and dig a grave for two. This play proves that revenge does not only harm the evil person but also their victim (Croteau, Melissa, and Carolyn Jess-Cooke, 12). The availability of justice is the reason as to why young people need to watch or read this play. Many people living in the 12st century prefer to take matters into their own hands claiming that the justice system does not function properly. Titus Andronicus enables people to understand the importance of the rule of law. Human behavior at that time shows slight change from the twenty first century due to civilization and the creation for the rule of law. Titus killed Tamora’s son for retribution of his fallen soldiers. Even in the twenty first century it is natural for humans to feel the need to avenge the death of their loved ones and fallen soldiers. However there are laws to be followed in the event the perpetrator of a murder is arrested. Tamora’s son was a Goth but there was no guarantee he killed the sons of Titus. If this were to happen in the 21st century, Titus would have been arrested and charged in a court of law. This would have prevented the death of many other family members. The rule of law at the time was applied in a discriminatory way. While Titus got away with murder of Tamora’s son, his son did not get away with the alleged murder of the emperors brother. Justice existed for those in power while the weak suffered alone. If Tamora had not been mad empress, she would not have avenged her son’s death. Justice is available for everyone in the twentieth century (Croteau, Melissa, and Carolyn Jess-Cooke, 10). There exist local laws and international laws that ensure nothing happens to anyone anywhere. The conviction of suspects does not occur immediately without investigation. A suspect is offered a chance to prove their innocence. Quintusand Martius were executed without trial; investigation would have proved their innocence and saved their lives. The twentieth century suspect even has a chance to appeal the judgment made by the judge. The emperor in the play is also the sole decision of punishments for people. Hence he had no impartiality in giving judgment. Politics has diversified since then ensuring that the top leader of the country has people controlling his power. Judges are also not allowed to pass judgment for their relatives. It is important that the people of the twenty first century understand the privileges they enjoy in the current civilization. Major changes have provided humans with better and safer living conditions. The rule of the jungle has been replaced by the rule of law. Works cited Croteau, Melissa, and Carolyn Jess-Cooke. Apocalyptic Shakespeare: Essays on Visions of Chaos and Revelation in Recent Film Adaptations. Jefferson, N.C: McFarland & Co, 2009. Print Shakespeare: The Essential Guide to the Life and Works of the Bard. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley, 2007. Shakespeare, William, and J C. Maxwell. Titus Andronicus. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1961. Print. Read More