MARTIUS

The brothers Saturninus and Bassianus are rival candidates for the Roman emperorship. ‘Titus ===== PAGE 181 ===== 1592 Andronicus is recalled from the war against the Goths, to be a further candidate. He returns in triumph with the Goth Queen Tamora a captive, but many of his sons dead. He allows his surviving sons to kill Tamora’s eldest son, Alarbus, as a sacrifice. Refusing the crown, he offers his support to Saturninus, who is duly elected; Titus hands over the prisoners to him and agrees to his request to marry Lavinia. Lavinia, however, is betrothed to Bassianus, and Titus’ family intervene on her behalf. Titus kills his son Mutius in reprisal; his brothers bury him despite their father’s opposition. Saturninus marries Tamora _ instead. Though she wants vengeance on Titus and Rome, she decides to bide her time until her husband is more politically secure. The Andronici and the royal family go hunting. Tamora has an assignation in the woods with Aaron, but is discovered by Bassianus and Lavinia. Tamora’s sons, Chiron and Demetrius, kill Bassianus and throw his body into a pit. Aaron frames Titus’ sons Martius and Quintus for the murder, using a forged letter and hidden gold. Chiron and Demetrius rape Lavinia, and silence her by cutting off her hands and tongue. She is found in the woods by her uncle, Marcus. - Titus watches his sons taken to execution; Lucius is banished for attempting to rescue them; Marcus brings mutilated Lavinia to her father. Aaron offers . Titus ‘a bargain: the Emperor will spare Martius and Quintus if Titus cuts off his own hand; he does, but the sons’ severed heads are sent back in derision. Titus sends Lucius to raise an army among the Goths. Lavinia finds a way of telling her story: she points to the tale of Philomela in Ovid, then writes with a staff in the sand, guiding it with her stumps and ‘mouth. Tamora gives birth to a blackamoor son. The nurse brings it to Aaron with instructions to kill it, but he kills her instead, and plans to substitute a fair-skinned baby to prevent Saturninus’ suspicions. Titus madly sends his kinsmen to seek for the goddess of justice in Hades, then enlists their help in firing arrows to heaven bearing messages for the gods. The arrows land in the precincts of the court, and offend the Emperor. Titus also sends him a knife wrapped in a letter, but Saturninus has the bearer, a clown, hanged. Advancing on Rome, the Goths capture Aaron and his baby; he offers information about the crimes of…