Titus Andronicus

Also known as: Andronicus / Titus / old Andronicus · Family: Andronicus · Role: Roman general · First appears: Titus Andronicus · Act I, Scene I

Titus Andronicus, a Roman general of the Andronicus faction, advises the Romans to elect Saturninus emperor and accepts his proposal that Lavinia become empress. He gives Alarbus to his son Lucius for sacrifice, but kills Mutius when the boy bars his way to recover Lavinia. At first allied with Saturninus, Bassianus, and Tamora, Titus is also father to Lucius, Quintus, Martius, Mutius, and Lavinia, brother to Marcus, and grandfather to Young Lucius; Tamora nevertheless secretly vows to destroy him and his family.

When Saturninus refuses bail for Quintus and Martius, Titus offers his hand as ransom, and it is cut off, after which he vows revenge. He forgives Marcus, then joins Marcus, Lavinia, and Young Lucius in swearing mortal revenge against the traitors, rejecting the boy’s immediate dagger attack because “I’ll teach thee another course.” Titus sends weapons exposing Chiron and Demetrius’ guilt, shoots arrows into Saturninus’s court with Marcus and Publius, and sends a concealed knife to the emperor. Though Tamora seeks to turn him away from Lucius’s war and Aaron confesses his part in the loss of Titus’s hand, Lucius agrees to meet the emperor after receiving pledges to Titus and Marcus.

When Tamora disguises herself as Revenge, Titus recognizes her and Chiron and Demetrius while pretending madness. He summons Lucius and the Goth princes, has Chiron and Demetrius bound, cuts their throats, and prepares them for the revenge banquet. He kills Lavinia to end her shame and sorrow, reveals that Chiron and Demetrius were baked into the pie eaten by Tamora, and stabs her; Saturninus then kills Titus in retaliation.