Titus Andronicus is Shakespeare's exploration of violence of all kinds - religious, domestic, political, sexual and corrective violence. Titus shows how quickly private vengeance can spiral out of control if the law does not contain it. Revenge never levels the playing field, but rather triggers counter-retaliation and creates an escalating cycle of vengeance. The growing dynamic quickly turns into a full-blown blood feud between two clans to which the perpetrator and the victim belong. In the play, the sacrifice of Tamora's eldest son, Alarbus, by Titus begins the cycle of violence that ultimately engulfs all Goths and Romans. The play begins with the triumphant return of Titus Andronicus in his war against the Goths. It was during his ten-year campaign that he lost all but four of his twenty-five sons, but he has now won a final victory, as his prisoners show: Tamora, his three sons, and Aaron, who is Tamora's servant and servant. her lover. As Titus buries his dead sons in the family tomb, his eldest surviving son, Lucius, reminds him to make a human sacrifice. The sacrifice is offered “ad manes fratrum” – “to the shadows of our brothers” – to prevent them from disturbing the Romans with “wonders” or supernatural calamities. Titus nominates Alarbus because he is the highest-ranking man among the prisoners of war. Tamora begs for her son's life and begs Titus for mercy. She tries to appeal to Titus as a parent. Tamora then goes on to say that both the Romans and the Goths died on the battlefield, fighting “piety” for their respective countries. Killing more Goths after they were taken as prisoners of war in this field is a cruel excess. Titus sees balance differently and, in his opinion, the Roman dead cry out for retribution ... middle of paper ... as even expected and fully supported in Shakespeare's time. The political and religious structures of the time did not reject the vengeful mindset that was prevalent at the time. For many people, it was the right of the king or God to exact vengeance for the wrongs of others, as they were seen as those who had been most offended. “Rome is but a desert of tigers” is the perfect summary of Shakespeare's conflicts between morality, ethics and philosophy. Many of these ideas are introduced and announced throughout the play. Shakespeare presents us with characters who are so steeped in their own visions of honor, justice, and devotion that it can seem like there is a clear line between what is right, what is wrong, and what is just. However, it continues to blur this line through each character's determination and dedication. must have its own moral code.