A recurring dominant idea in Titus Andronicus is the symbolism of the "body of Rome", which acts as a metaphorical parallel to the events of the text. This motif follows the evolution of the characters' statuses and power structures within the play and highlights the fall of the Roman Empire. The play follows the leader of the Roman army, Titus Andronicus, and his struggle for power after corruption within the empire's ruling forces. Although the text focuses extrinsically on Rome, it also presents ideas about the English monarchy of the Elizabethan era. The incompleteness of the body in the first act can be seen as the determining factor in the events of the play and the cause of the eventual collapse of the empire, fostered by the continued separation of body parts and bloodshed. The metaphor of the body of Rome present in Titus Andronicus demonstrates the tearing of the body politic of Rome by power imbalances and civil unrest. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The exposition of the play is paralleled with the motifs used in Titus Andronicus, which also explain the rise and fall of central characters and therefore the Empire. The "body of Rome", more importantly the head of this body symbol, emphasizes the seriousness of the events taking place through its ever-changing representation and its connection to the motif. At the beginning of Shakespeare's first revenge tragedy, Titus is asked to assume the position of emperor of Rome and, in a sense, to "help put his head on headless Rome." This crucial point of the play demonstrates a promise of restoration of order and a prosperous future, but this is quickly deteriorated by Titus's refusal and the transfer of power to Saturninus, the eldest son of the previous emperor. . As Titus was the people's favorite leader, the power he bestowed on Saturninus is considered illegitimate and illegal, quickly proven by the events that unfold in the rest of the text. The head is the most vital branch of the body pattern, reiterated by the immediate disappearance of the rest of the body politic. The relationship of a primary authority figure relates to the context of the time of publication and Queen Elizabeth's monarchist reign over England. The importance of a "head" over Rome, which is revealed as the empire continues to collapse as the plot progresses, reinforces the need for 16th century power structures. The first act of the play sets the stage for the unfolding of events, made evident to the audience by the use of the symbol of the parallel body. The imbalance of power and the decapitation of Rome resulting from the first act of the text continues to cause repercussions that are continually reflected. in the body pattern. The frequent dismemberment of body parts is a figurative continuation of the disintegration of the Roman body politic and the promise of a fall from grace for the majority of the central characters. Titus Andronicus contains nearly eighty mentions of hands and frequent relationships with the tongue, emphasizing the importance of these body parts in relation to the metaphor of the body as a whole. After Titus first sees his daughter Lavinia after her rape and mutilation by the illegal rulers of Rome, Chiron and Demetrius, without tongue or hands, he states that it is fortunate, because the service of her hands to Rome proved futile and unsuccessful: “It is well, Lavinia, that you have no hands;/For hands to render service to Rome are but vain. » In this scene, the hands are used as a symbol of physical effort which, when given