in Titus Andronicus — Shakespeare, William; Peele, George
Metadata
Play
Titus Andronicus
Author
Shakespeare, William; Peele, George
Year (catalogued)
1594
First performance
1594
Decade
1590s
Genre
Tragedy
Play type
Adult Professional
Company
Pembroke's Men (?)
Speech prefix(es)
Puer.
Words
338
Characters
1717
Typicality
0.26 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A12017
BritDrama no.
928
Cluster
Cluster 0 — Clowns, beggars & street sellers
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Help Grandsier help, my Aunt Lavini , Follows me every where I know not why. Good Uncle Marcus see how swift she comes, Alas sweet Aunt I know not what you mean. I when my Father was in Room she did. My Lord I know not I, nor can I guess, Unless some fit or frenzy do possess her: For I have herd my Grandsier say full oft, Extremity of grieves would make men mad. And I have read that Hecuba of Troy, Ran mad for sorrow, that made me to fear, Although my Lord I know my Noble Aunt, Loves me as deer as ere my Mother did, And would not but infurie fright my youth, Which made me down to throw my books and fly Causeless perhaps, but pardon me sweet Aunt, And Madam if my Uncle Marcus go, I will most willingly attend your Ladyship. Grandsier 'tis Ovid's Metamorphosis, My Mother gave it me. I say my Lord that if I were a man, Their mother's bedchamber should not be safe, For these base bondmen to the yoke of Room. And Uncle so will I, and if I live. I with my dagger in their bosoms Grandsier. My Lords, with all the humbleness I may, I greet your Honours from Andronicus ; And pray the Roman Gods confound you both. That you are both discipherd, thats the news, For villains marked with rape. May it please you, My Grandsier well advised hath sent by me, The goodliest weapons of his Armory, To gratify your honourable youth The hope of Room, for so he bid me say: And so I do, and with his gifts present Your Lordship's, when ever you have need, You may be armed and appointed well, And so I leave you both: Like bloody villains. Exit. O Grandfire, Grandsire, even with all my heart, Would I were dead so you did live again, Oh Lord I cannot speak to him for weeping, My tears will choacke me if I open my mouth.
Plot summary
Plot — Titus Andronicus
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…