Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus and the Gender of Revenge
| Thesis title in Czech: | Shakespearův Titus Andronicus a Genderové Aspekty Pomsty |
|---|---|
| Thesis title in English: | Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus and the Gender of Revenge |
| Key words: | tragédie pomsty|William Shakespeare|postmoderní film|Quentin Tarantino|genderová studia|trauma |
| English key words: | Revenge Tragedies|William Shakespeare|Postmodern Cinema|Quentin Tarantino|Gender Studies|Trauma |
| Academic year of topic announcement: | 2020/2021 |
| Thesis type: | diploma thesis |
| Thesis language: | angličtina |
| Department: | Department of Anglophone Literatures and Cultures (21-UALK) |
| Supervisor: | Mgr. Petra Johana Poncarová, Ph.D. |
| Author: | hidden - assigned and confirmed by the Study Dept. |
| Date of registration: | 18.08.2021 |
| Date of assignment: | 18.08.2021 |
| Administrator's approval: | not processed yet |
| Confirmed by Study dept. on: | 02.09.2021 |
| Date and time of defence: | 15.06.2023 00:00 |
| Date of electronic submission: | 19.05.2023 |
| Date of proceeded defence: | 15.06.2023 |
| Submitted/finalized: | committed by student and finalized |
| Opponents: | Mgr. Helena Znojemská, Ph.D. |
| Guidelines |
| This thesis will explore the nuances of gender in revenge tragedies, which is crucial in determining how the plot plays out and whether or not revenge and catharsis are achieved. It will aim to answer the question of whether female revenge is perceived in the same way as male revenge and explore the other ways in which gender affects the act of revenge. Early revenge tragedies are part of the foundation of the revenger characters as archetypes and set the stage for future representations. The thesis will focus mainly on William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. First it will examine the difference between male and female revengers in the domestic sphere, focusing on Tamora’s loss of her son, the way in which this loss affects her identity as a mother and as Aaron’s lover when she eventually becomes pregnant. Another female revenger who exists predominantly in the domestic sphere is Lavinia. In the domestic sphere, Titus has been displaced from an all-powerful figure to an almost completely powerless one, his identity as a man and as a father being threatened by Tamora and her sons. The thesis will also comment on the public sphere. Tamora has been stripped of her identity as queen and she has been turned into a prisoner of war. This loss of power in the public sphere is a significant component of her desire for revenge but it appears less prominent when compared to the other sufferings she has experienced. Analysis of Titus’ own loss of power and identity in the public sphere will be included, as well as the way in which other injustices suffered in the domestic or private sphere have pushed him towards a very public display of revenge. Female revenge seems to happen behind the scenes, at least until the last, crucial moment, while male revenge is much prominently displayed in the public sphere. Titus Andronicus is not Shakespeare’s only revenge tragedy, and this thesis will also consider other revengers in Shakespeare’s oeuvre and how they relate to the ones in Titus Andronicus, for instance in Hamlet and Othello. Finally this thesis will take a look at how the archetypes presented in Shakespearean revenge tragedies are relevant in contemporary culture, particularly when they are female. Some filmmakers, such as Quentin Tarantino and Park Chan-wook, have used the revenger archetypes in their films and transformed them. They both present female revengers who share many characteristics with Tamora and Lavinia, and their male revengers retain some qualities that echo early revenge tragedies as well. The political and social climate of today makes it relevant to examine these characters and their resurgence in contemporary culture. |
| References |
| Preliminary Bibliography Primary Texts: William Shakespeare. Hamlet. Ann Thompson and Neil Taylor ed. London: A & C Black, 2006. William Shakespeare. Othello. M. R. Ridley ed. London: Routledge, 1992. William Shakespeare. Titus Andronicus. Jonathan Bate ed. London: Thomson Learning, 2006. Secondary Sources: Carney, Jo Eldridge. “‘I'll Find a Day to Massacre Them All’: Tamora in ‘Titus Andronicus’ and Catherine de Médicis.’” Comparative Drama 48, no.4 Condon, James J. “Setting the Stage for Revenge: Space, Performance, and Power in Early Modern Revenge Tragedy.” Medieval & Renaissance Drama in England 21. Green, Douglas E. “‘Interpreting ‘Her Martyr'd Signs’: Gender and Tragedy in Titus Andronicus.’” Shakespeare Quarterly 40, no 3. Kurtz, Martha A. “Rethinking Gender and Genre in the History Play.” Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 36, no. 2 Lamb, Caroline. “Physical Trauma and (Adapt)ability in ‘Titus Andronicus.’” Critical Survey 22, no.1 Oatley, Keith. “Simulation of Substance and Shadow: Inner Emotions and Outer Behaviour in Shakespeare’s Psychology of Character.” College Literature 33, no. 1 Rice, Raymond J. “Cannibalism and the Act of Revenge in Tudor-Stuart Drama.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900 44, no.2 Schapiro, Barbara S. “Psychoanalysis and the Problem of Evil: Debating Othello in the Classroom.” American Imago 60, no. 4 Steenbergh, Kristine. “Emotion, Performance and Gender in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.” Critical Studies 34. Willis, Deborah. “‘The Gnawing Vulture’: Revenge, Trauma Theory, and ‘Titus Andronicus.’” Shakespeare Quarterly 53, no. 1 |