Beginning with the rape of Lavinia in Titus Andronicus, this book traces the linked themes of violation and identity through seven Shakespearean tragedies. The shock effects of Lavinia's rape reverberate throughout Shakespeare's later tragedies. This detailed study of Titus Andronicus, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Troilus and Cressida, Othello, King Lear and Macbeth reveals the way acts of violence evoke questions about the identities of the victims, perpetrators, and the acts themselves. Written in a clear, accessible style, it highlights the humanistic aspects of Shakespearean tragedy.