# Scene I explained — Titus Andronicus

> Chapter companion for Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Titus Andronicus pleads in vain for the lives of his sons Quintus and Martius, who are led to execution. Lucius is banished for attempting to rescue them. Marcus brings the mutilated Lavinia to Titus, revealing she has been raped and her hands and tongue cut off. Titus, overwhelmed by grief and rage, vows revenge. He sends Lucius to raise an army among the Goths. Later, Aaron deceives Titus into cutting off his own hand, which is sent to Saturninus along with the heads of Quintus and Martius. Titus descends into a vow of vengeance.

## Themes in this chapter

### Madness and Grief

Titus's overwhelming sorrow and his vow of revenge mark a descent into grief-driven madness.

### Revenge and Retribution

Titus swears to right the wrongs against his family, and Lucius vows to raise an army for revenge.

### Violence and Brutality

The mutilation of Lavinia, the execution of Quintus and Martius, and the cutting off of Titus's hand exemplify extreme brutality.

## Character check-ins

### Titus Andronicus

Pleads for his sons' lives, grieves over Lavinia's mutilation, vows revenge, and sacrifices his hand in a failed attempt to save his sons.

### Lucius

Attempts to rescue his brothers, is banished, and departs to raise an army among the Goths for revenge.

### Marcus Andronicus

Brings the mutilated Lavinia to Titus and laments the family's tragic state.

### Lavinia

Presented after being raped and mutilated, unable to speak or use her hands, she kisses Titus in a gesture of comfort.

### Aaron

Deceives Titus into cutting off his own hand, then sends the hand and the heads of Titus's sons to Saturninus.

### Quintus

Led to execution; his head is later sent to Titus.

### Martius

Led to execution; his head is later sent to Titus.

## Key lines

> Hear me, grave fathers! noble tribunes, stay! For pity of mine age, whose youth was spent In dangerous wars, whilst you securely slept;

Listen to me, respected elders and tribunes, have mercy on my old age, which I spent in dangerous wars while you slept safely.

_Titus appeals to the tribunes for pity based on his past service to Rome._

> Why, foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceive That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers?

Don't you realize, foolish Lucius, that Rome is like a wilderness full of tigers?

_Titus describes Rome as a savage place, full of predators._

> Speak, Lavinia, what accursed hand Hath made thee handless in thy father's sight?

Tell me, Lavinia, which cursed hand left you without hands in front of your father?

_Titus asks the mutilated Lavinia who attacked her._

> I am the sea; hark, how her sighs do blow! She is the weeping welkin, I the earth: Then must my sea be moved with her sighs; Then must my earth with her continual tears Become a deluge, overflow'd and drown'd;

I am the sea, and her sighs are the wind; she is the weeping sky, I am the earth. Her sighs stir my sea, and her tears flood my earth until I am overwhelmed.

_Titus uses a metaphor to express how Lavinia's grief affects him._

> Here are the heads of thy two noble sons; And here's thy hand, in scorn to thee sent back; Thy griefs their sports, thy resolution mock'd;

Here are the heads of your two noble sons, and here is your hand sent back to you in mockery; your grief is their entertainment, your determination is ridiculed.

_The messenger delivers the cruel tokens of the emperor's scorn._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/titus_andronicus_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters