There are about 2.800 books and about 47.000.000 web pages to be found today discussing Shakespeare’s life and his works. In this literary and historical jungle it is extremely difficult to find a topic that has not been dissected, discussed and academically proliferated upon ad anfinitum. Nevertheless, today’s inquisitive reader is still asking the same questions that have been asked over generations. One of these is for example. “Was William Shakespeare only an excellent and renowned Elizabethan playwright out to entertain a public yearning for the latest sensationalist entertainment? Or is there a hidden, more subtle, political voice to be interpreted when listening to or reading his words”? This essay will attempt to analyse the possible social, political inferences in Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus with regard to Queen Elizabeth the monarch and Elizabeth the woman. Furthermore, this essay will compare various contemporary political authors with the statements being made in the playwrights work.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Shakespeare – a Political Voice in Elizabethan Society?
3 Detectable Aspects of Elizabeth’s persona politica in Titus Andronicus
3.1 An Unwelcome Woman on the Throne
3.1.1 Elizabeth’s Reign – a Threat to the Natural Order
3.1.3 Tamora’s Rise and Exploitation of Status
3.2 Detraction of Primogeniture
3.2.1 Christopher Goodman and Jean Bodin - Examples of Strong Opposition to Primogeniture in Elizabeth’s England
3.2.2 The Fatal, Personal and Political Consequences of Saturnius’ Rise to Power
4 Elizabeth’s persona privata Reflected in the Characters Depicted in Titus Andronicus
4.1 Comparisons Between Lavinia and Elizabeth
4.1.1 Silent Omnipresence and Dependancy Upon Men
4.1.1.1 Young Elizabeth fails to be Autonomous
4.1.1.2 Lavinia’s Suffer and Forbearance
4.1.2 To Marry or not to Marry – that is the Question or Marriage as a Must – Patriarchal Pressures
4.1.3.1 Elizabeth’s Predicament
4.1.2.2 Lavinia’s Deadly Solution
4.2 Raising the Finger of Morality: Parallels Between Elizabeth and Tamora
4.2.1 Elizabeth’s Quick Temper
4.2.2 Elizabeth’s Game with Dudley and her Other Suitors
4.2.2 Demonized and Passionate Tamora
4.3. The Perils of Queens Bearing Illegitimate Children – Similarities
5 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper explores the potential social and political intersections between William Shakespeare’s play Titus Andronicus and the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth I. By analyzing both the public figure (persona politica) and the private individual (persona privata) of the Queen, the research examines how contemporary political tensions and gender dynamics were reflected in Shakespearean drama.
- Analysis of Elizabethan political discourse regarding female rule and primogeniture.
- Examination of character parallels between Queen Elizabeth and figures like Lavinia and Tamora.
- Investigation into the portrayal of patriarchal pressures and marriage within the Shakespearean context.
- Comparison of historical accounts of Elizabeth’s court life with the fictionalized power dynamics in Titus Andronicus.
Excerpt from the Book
Young Elizabeth Fails to be Autonomous
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth travelled much troughout her country. She was visible for the people. She was centre stage, so to speak:
„Es fehlte nicht an Gelegenheiten, bei denen sie sich dem Volke zeigen konnte, denn der Hof war ständig unterwegs. Greenwich, Whitehall, Richmond, Hampton Court, Windsor: in jedem Jahr sah man die Königin mit ihrem Gefolge als durchaus menschliche und nicht unnahbare Göttin […] von einem ihrer Paläste nach dem andern ziehen. […] Selbst im letzten Jahre ihres Lebens blieb sie ihrer alten Gewohnheit treu.“
But the other side of the coin shows that Elizabeth was a present, but also rather insecure and “tongueless” young woman: An interesting habit of the queen was to give nicknames to her immediate surroundings. “Robert Dudley she named her ‘eyes’”. Christopher Hatton, who was adopted to the circle of Elizabeth’s intimate associates in the late 60s, was nicknamed “eye lid”. Later, he was even called “mouton”. It seems obvious what these nicknames imply. Elizabeth needed feedback from her male friends owing to the fact that she was a rather reluctant decision maker. She often prefered an inactive and deferring judgements instead of a strategy of interference.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the research scope, focusing on Shakespeare as a potential political voice and the relevance of Queen Elizabeth I to his works.
2 Shakespeare – a Political Voice in Elizabethan Society?: Discusses the academic debate surrounding Shakespeare's involvement in political commentary and his portrayal of monarchical legitimacy.
3 Detectable Aspects of Elizabeth’s persona politica in Titus Andronicus: Explores the societal opposition to female rule and the challenges of primogeniture reflected in the play.
4 Elizabeth’s persona privata Reflected in the Characters Depicted in Titus Andronicus: Investigates the parallels between the personal life, temperament, and reputation of Queen Elizabeth and the female characters Lavinia and Tamora.
5 Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings and suggests a transition over time in Elizabeth’s representation, akin to the two sides of the coin presented by the play’s female characters.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, Queen Elizabeth I, Persona politica, Persona privata, Primogeniture, Patriarchal society, Lavinia, Tamora, Political history, Elizabethan era, Female rule, Marriage, Monarchy, Literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how the public and private life of Queen Elizabeth I is reflected in the themes, plot, and characters of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus.
What central themes are discussed in the work?
Key themes include the legitimacy of female rulers, the challenges of primogeniture, patriarchal pressure regarding marriage, and the influence of the Queen’s personality on her political decision-making.
What is the main research question of the essay?
The work seeks to determine if there are subtle social and political inferences within Titus Andronicus that mirror the political existence and private life of Queen Elizabeth I.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a literary-historical analysis, comparing primary text passages from Titus Andronicus with historical documents, contemporary political pamphlets, and biographies of Queen Elizabeth I.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body addresses the "unwelcome woman on the throne," opposition to female succession, the comparison of Elizabeth to Lavinia (silent dependency), the comparison to Tamora (temperament and manipulation), and the scandal surrounding alleged illegitimate children.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Important keywords include Elizabeth I, Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus, patriarchal pressures, persona politica, persona privata, and primogeniture.
How does the author view the character of Lavinia in relation to the Queen?
Lavinia is interpreted as a symbol for the "silent" and "dependent" phase of a young Queen, who struggles for autonomy within a male-dominated hierarchy.
What does the paper conclude about Tamora?
Tamora is presented as a "demonized" and manipulative character, representing the darker side of a ruler driven by personal feelings rather than duty, contrasting with the moral image Elizabeth sought to project.
Why was the myth of the "Virgin Queen" politically significant according to the author?
The author argues that the myth served as a powerful magnetic symbol and a political weapon, helping Elizabeth manage her male-dominated court and avoid losing power through marriage.
What is the significance of the "illegitimate child" theme in the text?
It highlights the vulnerability of the Queen's reputation, showing how contemporaries used rumors of hidden children to criticize her morality and threaten her political legitimacy.
- Quote paper
- Stephanie Anger (Author), 2008, Queen Elizabeth's Personality and Reign reflected in Shakespeare's 'Titus Andronicus', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/123409
