ipl-logo

Authority In Titus Andronicus By William Shakespeare

830 Words4 Pages

1. The Renaissance recognized that authority had a dual nature: auctoritas, which represents power as the source and giver of bounty, and potestas, which represents power as rule by sheer force and tyranny. All of the plays we have dealt with this semester have been concerned, either implicitly or explicitly, with this dualism. Look at the plays we have studied this semester and discuss how authority is portrayed in the plays. What kind of people are authority figures? How do they handle (or mishandle) their authority? How do people benefit or suffer as the result of their authority? Most importantly, (and this should be your thesis) what does Shakespeare’s opinion of authority seem to be? What would be his ideal ruler? In Titus Andronicus, the authority figure illustrates less auctoritas and more potestas, in effect, mishandling his authority. On the one hand, following Tamora’s advice, Saturninus reluctantly pardons Bassianus and the Andronici family. The act shows him as a considerate leader. On the other hand, he uses tyranny when he allows the arrests of Martius and Quintus, and sentences them to death. His actions suggest that he finds Titus and sons a threat as he has not even conducted an investigation and easily believes a forged letter. Saturninus mishandles authority by leading according to his fears and insecurities instead of promoting …show more content…

Antony rebels against Octavius for what he thinks is his unfairness. His actions did not end with a victory, however. Cleopatra indicates rebellion too when Octavius already asks her to surrender; instead, she chooses free will plus independence and commits suicide. Furthermore, Antony fights social norms. He should be fighting but when Cleopatra flees, he follows her instead. His love for her trumps expectations from a soldier and a leader like Antony. Like Antony, Cleopatra overlooks her duties to her people and decides out of

Show More
Related
945 Words | 4 Pages

In this area Antony is, once again, superior mainly due to his questioning of those who are against him. Antony uses the will of Caesar to back up what he’s stating. “Wherein hath Caesar thus deserved your loves? Alas, you know not! I must tell you then.

Read More
526 Words | 3 Pages

He tries to ally himself with the people labeling them as friends and fellow Romans. Starting out on a sincere note that will earn him respect from the crowd. Following this, Antony urges the crowd to join him in mourning Caesar, and eventually, he is overcome with distress. After regaining his composure he goes on to tell them that Caesar had been silenced, and he expresses dissatisfaction that the crowd wasn’t mourning with him. He puts the idea of rebellion in the minds of his listeners, but he urges them not to act on it.

Read More
669 Words | 3 Pages

Mark Antony was a Roman General, cavalry commander, quaestor and senator of the ancient Rome Empire around the final century BCE and ally and second in command to Julius Caesar. Antony was born in Rome in 83 BCE and ended his life by choice with his lover, Cleopatra, in 31 BCE. As a cavalry commander, he joined the army of Gabinius, in 57 BCE serving Egypt and Palisinte. Mark Antony was the general under Julius from around 52 to 50 BCE.

Read More
833 Words | 4 Pages

By refusing to read the will several times and admitting that what it contains will cause the people to have such a great love for Caesar that knowing he is now dead will be unbearable, Antony ignites curiosity in the people and furthermore, a subconscious feeling of respect and graciousness toward Caesar. Basically, Antony uses Caesar’s will to convince the people that Caesar was a selfless, kind-hearted man and those who killed him should be ashamed and punished for killing an innocent man. Through Antony’s use of paralipsis, he is able to plant a seed of admiration for Caesar and one of hate for the conspirators in the hearts of the plebeians. In his speech to the citizens, Antony also asks many rhetorical questions to cause his audience to pause and reflect on how they really feel, or how Antony wants them to feel, about certain people and events that have recently become important. In one instance.

Read More
744 Words | 3 Pages

Maryam Poonawalla Mrs. Sadia Warraich Essay #1 9B Disobedience to recognized authority: Every human being is composed of exclusive characteristics that make them unique in their own way, however, no individual is perfect because they also possess certain flaws that can lead them to disastrous outcomes. For example in the play Romeo and Juliet almost every character possessed certain flaws that lead to disastrous outcomes. One of the most common flaws that readers can see in the play is disobedience towards recognized authorities. This is manifested through characters like; Romeo, Juliet, and Tybalt whose hatred, revenge and love towards one another resulted in paying the price for their mistakes.

Read More
948 Words | 4 Pages

It amazes me that a man so lacking in courage is able to outdistance the pack and become the emperor” (1.2. 121-129). Cassius evokes the emotions of pride and pity. He makes Caesar seem feeble and vulnerable, discrediting his immense sense of pride and narcissistic personality. He uses these emotions to lead into his next point, where he questions how a weak and feeble man is suitable to be emperor. Furthermore, Cassius defames Caesar’s character while subtly hinting that Brutus

Read More
305 Words | 2 Pages

He could be manipulative and scheming, allowing his flesh to rule his heart. Cassius hated to be subservient to any man, and especially to Caesar. Upset by the rich and powerful who allowed Caesar to rule, he began to think of a way to remove Caesar from his throne. By using other men's good intentions, Cassius orchestrated and

Read More
1050 Words | 5 Pages

Some playwrights choose to write plays about historical events, among them there is The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, a play that describes the downfall of the rule of Julius Caesar, but is also a play that is not as truthful as it first impressionably is, a complete truthful account of Julius Caesar’s assassination and the events leading up to it. In order to greater attract the audience, Shakespeare, along with other playwrights, relied on adding historical inaccuracies to add the necessary suspense. Thus, Shakespeare strayed away from historical events occurring during Caesar’s lifetime, implementing inaccuracy into the story. Shakespeare based one of his most well-known plays, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, on historical events that includes

Read More
804 Words | 4 Pages

In William Shakespeare’s play Julius Caesar, Marc Antony appears to be a strong advocate for Julius Caesar’s triumphs and increasing power. However, like Caesar, Antony is extremely manipulative and powerful. After Caesar’s death, Antony manipulated the conspirators into believing he was on their side before requesting to speak at Caesar’s funeral. While Brutus and the conspirators remained fooled by Antony’s innocence, Antony took the initiative to inform the Roman citizens of the conspirator’s horrendous actions towards their beloved leader, Julius Caesar. Caesar’s funeral was a time of reflection for the citizens of Rome, as Marc Antony caused them to question their allegiance to Brutus.

Read More
1987 Words | 8 Pages

King Lear is about political authority as much as it is about the power of family and its’ dynamics. Lear is not only a father but also a king, and when he gives away his authority to the unworthy and evil Goneril and Regan, he gives not only himself and his family but all the people of Britain into cruelty and chaos. As the two wicked sisters satiate their demand for power and Edmund begins his own rising, the kingdom collapses into civil clash, and we realize that Lear has destroyed not only his own authority but all authority in Britain. The reliable, hierarchal order that Lear initially represents falls apart and disorder consumes the dimension. The failure of authority in the face of chaos recurs in Lear’s excursions on the heath during the storm.

Read More
1029 Words | 5 Pages

Power is often the root at which conflicts begin. As those on the bottom attempt to gain power and those at the top of the power dynamic attempt to consistently degrade those below them to prevent them from gaining influence. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, the surprise, seemingly societally transcendent, ability for Othello to gain power and Othello to be able to marry Desdemona, is immediately followed by those in power trying to relieve Othello of his role in society, leading Othello to even attempt to exert his own power. The powerful men of Othello attempt to destroy and subjugate the lives of others to prevent them from advancing and maintaining power.

Read More
632 Words | 3 Pages

By asking questions such as, "Did this in Caesar seem ambitious?" (Act III, Scene II), Antony highlights the contradictions and hypocrisies present in the statements made by Brutus and his co-conspirators. Moreover, Antony's repeated emphasis on Caesar's virtues and his loyalty to Rome serve to further engender the crowd's affection towards him. In doing so, Antony is able to gain the support of the masses, ultimately leading to a chaotic and violent uprising against the conspirators. His skillful employment of rhetorical questions and his masterful use of language play a crucial role in swaying the opinions of the Roman

Read More
1039 Words | 5 Pages

Reputation and honor creates for the most riveting theme in Shakespeare’s Othello. Evidently, no character speaks of themselves as an honorable person; instead they boast and use their reputation to unveil their superiority. Foremost, it defines a character and how they are perceived in society. Allows for the influencing or manipulation of others at the same time, concealing any wrongful acts. Eventually, in the long run it even determines the ending results.

Read More
1897 Words | 8 Pages

‘Julius Caesar’ and ‘Henry V’ are plays whose themes are reflective of their respective contextual climates. They were both written in the time of renaissance theatre under the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, who was an avid supporter of Shakespeare’s work. The plays were written consecutively, and they both present historical figures that were greatly idolised in the period in which they were composed. Both history plays convey how, on political scenery, deceit is omnipresent. In Julius Caesar, it is used to bring down the monarchial rule and to ultimately implant a new democratic government, while in Henry V, the King makes use of multiple facets of his personality among which is deceitful behavior in order to conquer France and win over

Read More
1231 Words | 5 Pages

Tara Jahns Ms. Zita Szigeti Language and Literature Advanced 9 9th of March 2015 English Essay Summative Assessment of Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is such an interesting play because even now, five hundred years later we are still talking and learning about this play. It is so relatable till date because people fall in love now as Romeo and Juliet did, families fight, as the Montagues and Capulets did. We can relate to each character in some. Which is what makes this play so compelling and lets it live, five hundred years later. Romeo and Juliet is a tragic tale of two lovers, separated by an epic feud of their two houses (Romeo a Montague and Juliet a Capulet.)

Read More

More about Authority In Titus Andronicus By William Shakespeare

Related Topics

Open Document