William Shakespeare

Titus Andronicus Annotated William Shakespeare

After the death of their father, Saturninus and Bassianus, two brothers, both demand to be made emperor. Saturninus feels that he should be emperor because he is the first-born son; Bassianus feels he should be made emperor because he is favored by the public. Before an election can take place, Marcus Andronicus arrives with Caesar's crown and states the public has decided his brother, Titus, should decide who becomes emperor, because he has just returned home after a victorious battle. Both brothers agree to this arrangement, and Bassianus expresses love for Titus and his family. Lucius tries to help his brothers and is banned from Rome. Titus then starts to hate the Rome he once loved. Aaron tells Titus that the emperor has decided his severed hand will serve as payment for his son's crimes and prevent their deaths. Without hesitation, Titus agrees and his hand is severed shortly before the heads of his sons are revealed. Titus realizes that Aaron has tricked him. His sorrow over his great losses turns into uncontrollable rage, and he's determined to seek revenge on Saturninus and Tamora by sending Lucius to work with the Goths. Titus struggles to accept all that has happened to his family. He grows weary and begins to behave in odd ways. When Marcus kills a fly, Titus cries out. Everyone thinks he has gone crazy. Tamora then tries to bargain with Titus by pretending to be the figure of revenge, and suggests that he convince his son Lucius to stop helping the Goths so that he can gain justice for the wrongs that had been done to him and his family.