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:
).
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
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
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
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
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.
Related Characters:
Marcus Andronicus (speaker), Titus Andronicus, Tamora, Demetrius and Chiron, Lavinia
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
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.
Related Characters:
Marcus Andronicus (speaker), Titus Andronicus, Saturninus, Tamora, Demetrius and Chiron
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
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
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
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
Related Themes:
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Explanation and Analysis:
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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
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...
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Marcus enters with a white robe and presents it to Titus as a token of the...
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...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...
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Marcus and Titus’ sons return and Marcus chastises Titus for killing Mutius. Titus again claims that...
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...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...
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Act 2, Scene 2
Marcus, Titus, and Titus’ sons prepare for the hunt. Titus tells his sons to watch out...
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Act 2, Scene 4
After Demetrius and Chiron leave, Marcus enters and discovers Lavinia. Marcus is horrified and asks what has happened to her and...
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Act 3, Scene 1
...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...
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...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...
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...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,...
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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...
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Overwhelmed by pain, Titus begins to laugh. Marcus asks why he laughs, and Titus responds that he has no more tears to shed...
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Act 3, Scene 2
Titus, Marcus, Lavinia, and Young Lucius (Titus’ grandson, the son of Lucius) are eating dinner. Titus laments...
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Marcus kills a fly, which upsets Titus, who thinks of the pain it would cause the...
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Act 4, Scene 1
...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...
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...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...
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Act 4, Scene 3
Titus, Marcus, Young Lucius, and Marcus’ son Publius are gathered with arrows that have inscriptions on them...
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Act 5, Scene 3
Lucius, Marcus, and some Goths arrive at Titus’ home for the banquet, bringing Aaron and his child...
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After all this chaos, Lucius and Marcus address the Roman people. Marcus says that he will help them restore Rome to its...
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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...
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