Senecan Atreus and Shakespearean Aaron as intratextual doubles of the poet

ABSTRACT: This article sheds light on how Shakespeare has incorporated metadramatic elements from Senecan Thyestes into Titus Andronicus . Shakespeare is influenced by his Senecan model in the portrayal of the avenger Aaron, who uses deception and violence as means to complete his revenge plan, just like Atreus. Both characters are aware of their metadramatic role and openly address their audience, so that it becomes an accomplice to their crimes. Aaron’s theatrical language may also indicate that he constitutes an intratextual double of Shakespeare, in order to make indirect self-referential apologetic comments about his poetry, a characteristic that could be traced back to Seneca.