Titus Andronicus

by

William Shakespeare

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Marcus Andronicus Character Analysis

Read our modern English translation.
Marcus is Titus’ brother and a Roman tribune (an elected official). He advises Titus throughout the play and attempts to reason with him as he slides more and more into a vengeful rage. He survives the entirety of the play, assuring the Roman people along with Lucius that they will bring stability back to Rome.

Marcus Andronicus Quotes in Titus Andronicus

The Titus Andronicus quotes below are all either spoken by Marcus Andronicus or refer to Marcus Andronicus. 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

Be candidatus, then, and put [the white robe] on /
And help to set a head on headless Rome.

Related Characters: Marcus Andronicus (speaker), Titus Andronicus
Related Symbols: The White Robe, The Body
Page Number: 1.1.185-186
Explanation and 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.

Related Characters: Lucius (speaker), Marcus Andronicus, Lavinia
Page Number: 1.1.382-385
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, Scene 1 Quotes

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.

Page Number: 4.1.90-95
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, Scene 3 Quotes

Kinsmen, his sorrows are past remedy.
Join with the Goths, and with revengeful war
Take wreak on Rome for this ingratitude,
And vengeance on the traitor Saturnine.

Page Number: 4.3.31-35
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 5, Scene 3 Quotes

O, let me teach you how to knit again
This scattered corn into one mutual sheaf,
These broken limbs again into one body.

Related Characters: Marcus Andronicus (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Body
Page Number: 5.3.71-73
Explanation and Analysis:

Now judge what cause had Titus to revenge
These wrongs unspeakable, past patience,
Or more than any living man could bear.
Now have you heard the truth. What say you, Romans?
Have we done aught amiss?

Related Characters: Marcus Andronicus (speaker), Titus Andronicus
Page Number: 5.3.126-131
Explanation and Analysis:
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Titus Andronicus PDF

Marcus Andronicus Character Timeline in Titus Andronicus

The timeline below shows where the character Marcus Andronicus 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
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
The Roman tribune (a government official appointed to protect the common people) Marcus Andronicus intervenes, telling both sons that the Roman people have instead chosen Marcus’ brother, Titus... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Marcus enters with a white robe and presents it to Titus as a token of the... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
...tells Titus 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... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
Marcus and Titus’ sons return and Marcus chastises Titus for killing Mutius. Titus again claims that... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
...Speaking aloud, Tamora continues to lie to Titus, telling him, “This day all quarrels die.” Marcus, Lavinia, and Titus’ sons ask for Saturninus’ pardon. Saturninus publicly forgives them. Titus invites Saturninus... (full context)
Act 2, Scene 2
Revenge Theme Icon
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Marcus, Titus, and Titus’ sons prepare for the hunt. Titus tells his sons to watch out... (full context)
Act 2, Scene 4
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
After Demetrius and Chiron leave, Marcus enters and discovers Lavinia. Marcus is horrified and asks what has happened to her and... (full context)
Act 3, Scene 1
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
...says that they are better off dead, since Rome is now “a wilderness of tigers.” Marcus enters with Lavinia and Titus sees what has been done to her. Titus asks Lavinia... (full context)
Children Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
...than if he had killed him. Lavinia weeps when Titus mentions Quintus and Martius and Marcus wonders whether it is because she knows that they killed her husband Bassianus or because... (full context)
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Children Theme Icon
...enters and 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,... (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 advises Titus, “let reason govern thy lament,” but Titus replies that since the cruelties done... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
Grief and Mourning Theme Icon
Overwhelmed by pain, Titus begins to laugh. Marcus asks why he laughs, and Titus responds that he has no more tears to shed... (full context)
Act 3, Scene 2
Children Theme Icon
Titus, Marcus, Lavinia, and Young Lucius (Titus’ grandson, the son of Lucius) are eating dinner. Titus laments... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
Rome, Romans, and Barbarians Theme Icon
Marcus kills a fly, which upsets Titus, who thinks of the pain it would cause the... (full context)
Act 4, Scene 1
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
...running away from Lavinia, who is following him and, because of her disfigurement, frightening him. Marcus and Titus tell him not to be afraid of Lavinia, who is attempting to communicate... (full context)
Revenge Theme Icon
...writes “stuprum,” which is the Latin word for rape, and the names Chiron and Demetrius. Marcus, Titus, and Young Lucius swear to exact revenge on Tamora’s sons. Titus tells Young Lucius... (full context)
Act 4, Scene 3
Revenge Theme Icon
Violence and Justice Theme Icon
Titus, Marcus, Young Lucius, and Marcus’ son Publius are gathered with arrows that have inscriptions on them... (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... (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 to its... (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... (full context)