Titus Andronicus

by

William Shakespeare

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Lucius Character Analysis

Read our modern English translation.
Lucius is one of Titus’ sons and the only one to survive the entirety of the play. After being exiled from Rome, he goes to the Goths and raises an army to challenge Saturninus. He has the popular support of the Roman people and, at the end of the play, promises to return Rome to its former greatness.

Lucius Quotes in Titus Andronicus

The Titus Andronicus quotes below are all either spoken by Lucius or refer to Lucius. 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 1, Scene 1 Quotes

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.

Related Characters: Lucius (speaker), Marcus Andronicus, Lavinia
Page Number: 1.1.382-385
Explanation and Analysis:

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

Related Characters: Tamora (speaker), Titus Andronicus, Lavinia, Lucius, Quintus and Martius
Page Number: 1.1.458-461
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 3, Scene 1 Quotes

O noble father, you lament in vain.
The Tribunes hear you not; no man is by,
And you recount your sorrows to a stone.

Related Characters: Lucius (speaker), Titus Andronicus
Page Number: 3.1.27-29
Explanation and Analysis:

Why, foolish Lucius, dost thou not perceive
That Rome is but a wilderness of tigers?

Related Characters: Titus Andronicus (speaker), Lucius
Page Number: 3.1.54-55
Explanation and Analysis:

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

Related Characters: Lucius (speaker), Titus Andronicus, Lavinia
Page Number: 3.1.138-139
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, Scene 3 Quotes

There’s meed for meed, death for a deadly deed.

Related Characters: Lucius (speaker), Titus Andronicus, Saturninus
Related Symbols: The Body
Page Number: 5.3.67
Explanation and Analysis:
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Lucius Character Timeline in Titus Andronicus

The timeline below shows where the character Lucius 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
...sons (Alarbus, Demetrius, and Chiron); and Aaron, a Moor (someone of African descent). Titus’ son Lucius suggests that one of Tamora’s sons be killed as retribution for the deaths of Titus’... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
...that Lavinia was already betrothed to him and takes Lavinia by the arm. Marcus and Lucius support Bassianus's claim to Lavinia, and Titus responds by calling them traitors. Titus then calls... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
...chastises Titus for killing Mutius. Titus again claims that Mutius was “no son of mine.” Lucius asks for Mutius to be buried in the Andronicus family tomb, but Titus refuses. Marcus... (full context)
Act 2, Scene 3
Revenge Theme Icon
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
...hole and Martius answers him. He tells Saturninus that Bassianus is dead. Tamora, Titus, and Lucius arrive. Tamora feigns ignorance about Bassianus’ death and gives Saturninus the letter that Aaron has... (full context)
Act 3, Scene 1
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
...falls to the ground, still talking to the tribunes, who leave with Quintus and Martius. Lucius enters and tells Titus that the tribunes are gone. Titus continues to plead, saying that... (full context)
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
Lucius tells Titus that he is going to rescue Quintus and Martius, but Titus says that... (full context)
Children Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
...Bassianus or because she knows that they are wrongfully accused. Titus continues to lament, and Lucius tells him to “cease your tears,” because he is upsetting Lavinia. Marcus offers Titus a... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
...tells Titus that Saturninus will allow Titus’ sons to be ransomed if Titus, Marcus, or Lucius will cut off one of their hands. Titus is eager to do it, but Lucius... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
...to shed and that sorrow is useless. Instead, he will seek out revenge. He sends Lucius to go to the Goths and raise an army to challenge Saturninus. Lucius bids farewell... (full context)
Act 4, Scene 4
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
A messenger named Aemilius arrives and tells Saturninus that Lucius is leading an army of Goths against Rome. Saturninus worries, since the Roman people are... (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... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Aaron tells Lucius that Tamora is the mother of his child and that Demetrius and Chiron killed Bassianus,... (full context)
Act 5, Scene 2
Revenge Theme Icon
...and that Titus has lost his mind. She plots to go among the Goths while Lucius is at a banquet at Titus’ house, and turn them against Lucius. Titus returns and... (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... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
...the flesh that she herself hath bred.” Titus kills Tamora. Saturninus responds by killing Titus. Lucius then avenges his father by killing Saturninus. (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
After all this chaos, Lucius and Marcus address the Roman people. Marcus says that he will help them restore Rome... (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... (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 starve to... (full context)