About the work
Shakespeare's earliest tragedy was likely written between 1588 and 1593, possibly in collaboration with George Peele. Theatre manager Philip Henslowe recorded its first documented performance in his diary for 24 January 1594: the Earl of Sussex's Men played it at the Rose Theatre, marked "ne" (new), though it remains unclear whether this meant a true premiere or merely a production newly added to the repertoire. A first quarto edition appeared that same year, 1594.
Plot
The Roman general Titus Andronicus returns victorious from war against the Goths and sacrifices the eldest son of the captured Gothic queen Tamora, who then swears revenge on his family. When Tamora becomes empress of Rome, she, her secret lover Aaron and her sons drive Titus's family through murder, rape and mutilation into a spiral of violence. Titus finally takes revenge with extreme brutality before the play ends in a bloodbath that leaves few survivors.
Cultural significance
The play was highly popular in Shakespeare's lifetime, later fell out of favour for long periods because of its extreme violence, and is now again regarded as a serious early tragedy that anticipates Shakespeare's later treatment of revenge and violence.