Titus Andronicus characters

Appears from the start

An aging Roman general returning from a long war against the Goths with only four of his many sons still alive. Devoted to Roman custom, military honor, and family authority, he refuses the imperial crown and supports Saturninus instead.

Appears from the start

The captured Queen of the Goths and mother of Alarbus, Demetrius, and Chiron. After Titus rejects her plea to spare Alarbus, Saturninus frees and marries her. She presents herself as a peacemaker while privately promising vengeance against the Andronici.

Appears from the start

The elder son of Rome's late emperor. Titus supports his claim to the throne, but Saturninus quickly proves possessive and changeable, abandoning his plan to marry Lavinia and choosing Tamora as empress.

Appears from the start

Saturninus's younger brother and rival claimant to the imperial succession. He is already betrothed to Lavinia and takes her from Saturninus with the aid of her brothers, deepening the new emperor's hostility toward the Andronicus family.

Appears from the start

Titus's daughter and the betrothed of Bassianus. When Saturninus claims her as his bride, she leaves with Bassianus and her brothers rather than accept the emperor's sudden choice.

Appears from the start

Titus's eldest surviving son. He demands the ritual sacrifice of Tamora's eldest son for his dead brothers and later defies Saturninus to protect Lavinia's existing betrothal to Bassianus.

Appears from the start

Titus's brother and a tribune of the people. He offers Titus the imperial crown, accepts Titus's refusal, and repeatedly tries to guide and support the Andronicus family as its disasters multiply.

First appears in chapter 2

Tamora's secret lover and a calculating member of her household. He encourages Chiron and Demetrius to pursue Lavinia together and designs the hunt as an opportunity for murder, assault, and false accusation.

Appears from the start

A son of Tamora and brother of Chiron. He shares his mother's desire for revenge after Alarbus is sacrificed and is ready to use violence against the Andronicus family.

Appears from the start

A son of Tamora and brother of Demetrius. He supports the family's concealed campaign against Titus and competes with his brother until Aaron directs their aggression toward a common target.

First appears in chapter 2

One of Titus's surviving sons. During the imperial hunt, Aaron's deception leads him into the pit containing Bassianus's body, where planted evidence makes him appear involved in the murder.

First appears in chapter 2

One of Titus's surviving sons. He tries to help Martius out of the pit during the hunt and is trapped there with him, allowing Aaron's forged letter and hidden gold to implicate both brothers in Bassianus's death.

Appears from the start

A son of Titus who joins his brothers in defending Lavinia's betrothal to Bassianus. When he blocks Titus from pursuing her, Titus kills him in anger despite the family's appeals.

Also known as Boy

First appears in chapter 3

Lucius's young son and Titus's grandson. He remains with the damaged Andronicus household after his father's banishment and is distressed by Lavinia's suffering during the family's strained meal.