Titus Andronicus Play
Titus Andronicus begins with Roman General Titus,
returning to Rome, victorious after a ten year war against
the Goths. The late Emperor has died, Saturninus the
eldest son wanting to become Emperor, his brother Bassanius
arguing for an election he hopes to win. Instead, Titus
is elected Emperor by the Senate in recognition of his
military services to Rome. The General declines, instead
choosing Saturninus over Bassanius to be the new Emperor.
Saturninus now makes Titus' daughter Lavinia his new
empress despite her preferring Bassanius. Amongst the
general's prisoners are Queen Tamara and sons Alarbus,
Demetrius and Chiron. Alarbus is quickly slain by Titus'
sons to appease the Roman Gods. Tamara curses all Romans
as a result.
Saturninus falls in love with Tamara at first sight
and who sets her sons free... Bassanius then declares
his love of Lavinia, Titus telling Bassanius she should
stay with the Emperor. Bassanius ignores this, fleeing
with Lavinia only to have Titus kill his son Mutius
for breaking an order. Saturninus now declares Tamara
will be his new empress instead of Lavinia to the General's
complete surprise. Tamara with Aaron (a Moor), her real
lover, hopes to bring about Titus' downfall. Saturninus
accuses his brother of treason but Tamara convinces
the Emperor to overlook this and the murder of Mutius,
resolving to kill them all later... Tamara's surviving
sons Demetrius and Chiron who both love Lavinia despite
her loving Bassanius, find Bassanius in the forest,
quickly killing him. Next they rape Titus' daughter
Lavinia, then cut out her tongue and hands. Miraculously,
she survives... Aaron sets up Titus' sons Quintus and
Martius for Bassanius' murder.
Titus begs for mercy but his pleas fall on the Emperor's
deaf ears... Titus' other son, Lucius attempts to free
Quintus and Martius only to be banished from Rome as
a result. Lavinia is discovered, Aaron telling Titus
that Emperor Saturninus will spare his son's lives for
the murder of his brother Bassanius if and only
if someone cuts off one of his hands and sends it to
the Emperor. Titus duly cuts off his hand only to receive
sons Quintus and Martius' heads along with his severed
hand. Seeing his son's heads and realising he mutilated
himself for nothing, Titus sends remaining son Lucius
to the Goths to raise an army to sack Rome.
True to his father's wishes, Lucius has raised an army.
Lavinia too has managed to communicate to Titus who
mutilated her, Titus, now close to madness, successfully
luring Demetrius and Chiron into a trap where he tells
them he knows what they did and darkly tells them their
fate in which he decides to make a pie from their remains...
Tamara gives birth to Aaron's son. Lucius captures Aaron's
baby, Aaron admitting all to save the baby. Titus reveals
he is not mad at all. Tamara and Emperor Saturninus
attempt to convince Titus to stop Lucius and the Goths
from sacking Rome. Titus suggests they have dinner...
During the dinner, Titus kills Lavinia in an act of
mercy, then reveals to his guests what the pie they
are eating is made of... Next, Titus kills Tamara, Saturninus
then killing Titus, Lucius then killing Saturninus.
Lucius is made Emperor, ordering Aaron to be buried
in sand to his head, then left to starve to death. For
Tamara, Lucius decides to have her body left unburied
so scavengers may tear her body to pieces...
Contents
Dramatis
Personæ
Act I
Scene I
Act II
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act III
Scene I, Scene
II
Act IV
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III, Scene
IV
Act V
Scene I, Scene
II, Scene III
|