Short assignment #2 Using nature around us has always been an amazing inspiration for all writers. William Shakespeare is no different than the rest of us. In Shakespeare's work, he uses nature as a way to convey different themes and emotions. In William Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus, the relationship between humans and nature is a prominent theme that is explored through the use of both materiality and metaphor. Through vivid descriptions of natural elements such as trees, flowers, and animals, as well as the characters' references to these elements to describe human emotions and actions, the play highlights the complex writing involving nature and human emotions. This essay will explore the use of materiality and metaphor in Titus Andronicus, Act 2, Scene 3. …show more content…
Tamora begins this scene optimistically. She paints the forest in this beautiful light when trying to seduce her secret lover into spending time with her. The trees are personified, and the forest is described as a place where "the birds chant melody on every bush, and the snake lies rolled in the cheerful sun." (2.3.12-3) This representation of nature creates a peaceful and serene image in the reader's mind. The forest is depicted as a place of calmness and tranquility, which is in stark contrast to the events that are about to unfold. When Aaron and Tamora are interrupted, her sense of peace seems to disappear. Before, she was describing the forest as beautiful, but when her mood darkens, so does her view of the forest. She describes it as "a barren, detested vale, you see it is; The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, O'ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe; here never shines the sun; here nothing breeds, unless the nightly owl or fatal raven."