Beyond gore

This production of Titus Andronicus, wrapping up tonight, is light on the gore and shock effects, and wrestles with the core of the conflicts between the Roman factions, the vengeful Goth queen, and wild cards like her advisor and lover, Aaron.

Spouse and I were talking this morning about how Titus is all about love of children. Titus, Tamora, Aaron all make their key decisions based on their perceptions of what their children need or what they expect of them. Maybe that's why the characters who have neither parents nor children in the play (Saturnine, Marcus, Bassianus) seem less substantial to me.