Titus Andronicus

by

William Shakespeare

Teachers and parents! Struggling with distance learning? Our Teacher Edition on Titus Andronicus can help.

Aaron the Moor Character Analysis

Read our modern English translation.
Aaron is Tamora’s secret lover and fathers a child with her. Of African descent, he takes abuse from both the Andronicus family and from Demetrius and Chiron for his dark skin. While the distinction between barbarous Goths and civilized Romans tends to blur over the course of the play, Aaron is still separated from other characters because of his skin color. Aaron is a cunning villain, behind much of the violence of the play: he arranges for Quintus and Martius to be framed for Bassianus's murder, and he also encourages Demetrius and Chiron to both rape Lavinia. He feels no regret for his deeds when captured by Lucius, and says that he only wishes he could live to commit more crimes.

Aaron the Moor Quotes in Titus Andronicus

The Titus Andronicus quotes below are all either spoken by Aaron the Moor or refer to Aaron the Moor. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Revenge Theme Icon
).
Act 2, Scene 1 Quotes

There serve your lust, shadowed from heaven’s eye,
And revel in Lavinia’s treasury.

Related Characters: Aaron the Moor (speaker), Demetrius and Chiron, Lavinia
Related Symbols: The Body
Page Number: 2.1.138-139
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, Scene 3 Quotes

Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,
Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.

Related Characters: Aaron the Moor (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Hunt
Page Number: 2.38-39
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, Scene 1 Quotes

But I have done a thousand dreadful things
As willingly as one would kill a fly,
And nothing grieves me heartily indeed
But that I cannot do ten thousand more.

Related Characters: Aaron the Moor (speaker)
Page Number: 5.1.143-146
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Titus Andronicus LitChart as a printable PDF.
Titus Andronicus PDF

Aaron the Moor Character Timeline in Titus Andronicus

The timeline below shows where the character Aaron the Moor appears in Titus Andronicus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
Revenge Theme Icon
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
...prisoners: Tamora, the queen of the Goths; her three sons (Alarbus, Demetrius, and Chiron); and Aaron, a Moor (someone of African descent). Titus’ son Lucius suggests that one of Tamora’s sons... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Saturninus enters with Tamora, her sons, and Aaron, while Bassianus enters with Lavinia. Saturninus tells Bassianus that he can have Lavinia and calls... (full context)
Act 2, Scene 1
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
In a soliloquy, Aaron reveals that he and Tamora are lovers and says that Tamora will cause the downfall... (full context)
Act 2, Scene 3
Revenge Theme Icon
Alone during the hunt, Aaron buries a bag of gold under a tree. Tamora arrives and suggests she and Aaron... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Bassianus and Lavinia come upon Aaron and Tamora, discovering that the two are lovers. Aaron leaves to find Tamora’s sons. Bassianus... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Aaron enters, leading two of Titus’ sons (Martius and Quintus) and telling them that he has... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
...Bassianus in return for payment in the form of gold hidden under a nearby tree. Aaron unearths the gold. Saturninus believes that Titus’ sons are behind the plot, and since they... (full context)
Act 3, Scene 1
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Aaron enters and tells Titus that Saturninus will allow Titus’ sons to be ransomed if Titus,... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
Aaron leaves and Titus cries out in pain, saying that his passionate grief is “bottomless.” Marcus... (full context)
Act 3, Scene 2
Revenge Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
...pain it would cause the fly’s parents. Marcus responds that the fly was black, like Aaron. Titus cries out gleefully and tells Marcus he was right to kill the fly. He... (full context)
Act 4, Scene 2
Children Theme Icon
...Tamora has given birth to a son. A nurse enters, bearing Tamora’s son. She tells Aaron that the child is dark-skinned, and will thus reveal that Tamora and Aaron are lovers.... (full context)
Act 5, Scene 1
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Lucius prepares his army of Goths to attack Rome. A Goth enters with Aaron and Aaron’s child, having found them in hiding. Lucius decides to hang the child in... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Aaron tells Lucius that Tamora is the mother of his child and that Demetrius and Chiron... (full context)
Act 5, Scene 3
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Lucius, Marcus, and some Goths arrive at Titus’ home for the banquet, bringing Aaron and his child with them as prisoners. Lucius has Marcus watch over Aaron until it... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
...Quintus and Martius to be wrongfully executed and him to be exiled. Marcus then reveals Aaron and Tamora’s child, tells the Roman people, “Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge... (full context)
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
Aemilius acclaims Lucius as emperor, since the Roman people support him. Marcus orders for Aaron to be brought out, while the Roman people hail Lucius as their new emperor. Lucius... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
Guards bring out Aaron and Lucius orders for him to be buried chest-deep in the earth, where he will... (full context)