Bassianus

Family: Rome · Role: prince · First appears: Titus Andronicus · Act I, Scene I

Life events

• Bassianus takes Lavinia away and declares her his lawful wife.(Titus Andronicus · Act I, Scene I)
  • With: Lavinia
  • “Rape call you it, my lord, to seize my own, My true betrothed love, and now my wife? But let the laws of Rome determine all; Meanwhile am I possessed of that is mine.”
• Chiron and Demetrius stab Bassianus, killing him.(Titus Andronicus · Act II, Scene III)
  • With: Chiron Demetrius
  • “DEMETRIUS. This is a witness that I am thy son. [Stabs Bassianus.] CHIRON. And this for me, struck home to show my strength. [Also stabs Bassianus, who dies.]”
• Chiron and Demetrius hide Bassianus’s body in a pit.(Titus Andronicus · Act II, Scene III)
  • With: Chiron Demetrius
  • “[They put Bassianus’s body in the pit and exit, carrying off Lavinia.]”
• Quintus and Martius discover Bassianus’s murdered body in the pit.(Titus Andronicus · Act II, Scene III)
  • With: Quintus Martius
  • “MARTIUS. Lord Bassianus lies berayed in blood, All on a heap, like to a slaughtered lamb, In this detested, dark, blood-drinking pit.”
• Tamora presents a letter purporting to expose the plot against Bassianus.(Titus Andronicus · Act II, Scene III)
  • With: Tamora Saturninus
  • “TAMORA. Then all too late I bring this fatal writ, The complot of this timeless tragedy; And wonder greatly that man’s face can fold In pleasing smiles such murderous tyranny. [She giveth Saturnine a letter.]”
• Saturninus orders Quintus and Martius imprisoned for Bassianus’s murder.(Titus Andronicus · Act II, Scene III · 📍 prison)
  • With: Saturninus Quintus Martius
  • “SATURNINUS. [To Titus.] Two of thy whelps, fell curs of bloody kind, Have here bereft my brother of his life. Sirs, drag them from the pit unto the prison. There let them bide until we have devised Some never-heard-of torturing pain for them.”

Titus Andronicus · Act I, Scene I

• allies with Titus Andronicus “Andronicus, I do not flatter thee, / But honour thee, and will do till I die.”
• engaged with Lavinia “By him that justly may / Bear his betrothed from all the world away.”

Titus Andronicus · Act II, Scene I

• courtship with Lavinia “Take this of me: Lucrece was not more chaste Than this Lavinia, Bassianus’ love.”
• rivals with Chiron “CHIRON. I care not, I, knew she and all the world. I love Lavinia more than all the world. DEMETRIUS. Youngling, learn thou to make some meaner choice. Lavina is thine elder brother’s hope. AARON. Why, are ye mad? Or know ye not in Rome How furious and impatient they be, And cannot brook competitors in love? I tell you, lords, you do but plot your deaths By this device. CHIRON. Aaron, a thousand deaths Would I propose to achieve her whom I love. AARON. To achieve her! How? DEMETRIUS. Why makes thou it so strange? She is a woman, therefore may be wooed; She is a woman, therefore may be won; She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved. What, man, more water glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know. Though Bassianus be the emperor’s brother, Better than he have worn Vulcan’s badge.”
• rivals with Demetrius “DEMETRIUS. Why makes thou it so strange? She is a woman, therefore may be wooed; She is a woman, therefore may be won; She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved. What, man, more water glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of; and easy it is Of a cut loaf to steal a shive, we know. Though Bassianus be the emperor’s brother, Better than he have worn Vulcan’s badge.”

Titus Andronicus · Act II, Scene III

• married with Lavinia “Drag hence her husband to some secret hole, And make his dead trunk pillow to our lust.”
• siblings with Saturninus “My brother dead! I know thou dost but jest.”

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Extracted from the original text of Shakespeare's Tragedies. Made with Rho MD.