Lavinia Character Analysis

Suffer thy brother Marcus to inter
His noble nephew here in virtue’s nest,
That died in honor and Lavinia’s cause.
Thou art a Roman; be not barbarous.

I’ll find a day to massacre them all
And raze their faction and their family,
The cruel father and his traitorous sons.

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

Ay, come, Semiramis, nay, barbarous Tamora,
For no name fits thy nature but thy own.

Remember, boys, I poured forth tears in vain
To save your brother from the sacrifice,
but fierce Andronicus would not relent.
Therefore away with her, and use her as you will;
The worse to her, the better loved of me.

My grief was at the height before thou cam’st,
And now like nilus it disdaineth bounds.

Sweet father, cease your tears, for at your grief
See how my wretched sister sobs and weeps.

And swear with me—as, with the woeful fere
And father of that chaste dishonored dame,
Lord Junius Brutus swore for Lucrece’ rape—
That we will prosecute by good advice
Mortal revenge upon these traitorous Goths,
And see their blood or die with this reproach.

Die, die, Lavinia, and thy shame with thee,
And with thy shame thy father’s sorrow die.