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Marcus Andronicus
Saturninus is the oldest son of the recently deceased Roman emperor and thus becomes emperor at the beginning of the play. When Titus’ sons and Bassianus claim that he cannot marry Lavinia, as he wished, he becomes angry with the Andronicus family and chooses Tamora as his wife instead. He then secretly engages in acts of revenge against Titus, though does not realize that he is being lied to and manipulated by Tamora.
Saturninus Quotes in Titus Andronicus
The Titus Andronicus quotes below are all either spoken by Saturninus or refer to Saturninus. 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:
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Act 1, Scene 1 Quotes
Traitor, if Rome have law or we have power,
Thou and thy faction shall repent this rape.
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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.
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Act 5, Scene 3 Quotes
My lord the Emperor, resolve me this:
Was it well done of rash Virginius
To slay his daughter with his own right hand
Because she was enforced, stained, and deflowered?
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There’s meed for meed, death for a deadly deed.
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Saturninus Character Timeline in Titus Andronicus
The timeline below shows where the character Saturninus appears in Titus Andronicus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
As the play opens, Saturninus and Bassianus, the two sons of the recently deceased emperor of Rome, are arguing over...
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...campaign against the Gauls, where 21 of his 25 sons died in battle. Bassianus and Saturninus concede and the three men exit.
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...of him as emperor. Titus declines (he says he is too old and weak) and Saturninus responds by reasserting his claim to the throne. Bassianus asks for Titus to support him...
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As a gesture of thanks to Titus, Saturninus declares that he will take Lavinia as his wife. Titus is pleased with this, and...
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...Bassianus's claim to Lavinia, and Titus responds by calling them traitors. Titus then calls for Saturninus to alert him and Saturninus returns. Titus’ son Mutius helps Titus’ other sons and Bassianus...
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Angry that Lavinia has been taken from him, Saturninus says that he no longer trusts the Andronicus family and will not have Lavinia as...
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Saturninus enters with Tamora, her sons, and Aaron, while Bassianus enters with Lavinia. Saturninus tells Bassianus...
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Tamora convinces Saturninus not to seek revenge, but rather to forgive Titus. However, she secretly whispers to Saturninus...
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Act 2, Scene 1
...that he and Tamora are lovers and says that Tamora will cause the downfall of Saturninus and Rome. Chiron and Demetrius enter, arguing over their desire for Lavinia, and prepare to...
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Act 2, Scene 2
...and Titus’ sons prepare for the hunt. Titus tells his sons to watch out for Saturninus, as he has been “troubled in my sleep this night.” Saturninus, Tamora, Bassianus, Lavinia, and...
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Act 2, Scene 3
...sons will rape Lavinia and kill Bassianus. He gives Tamora a letter to show to Saturninus.
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...Lavinia and Bassianus chastise Tamora for sleeping with Aaron and say that they will tell Saturninus about what they’ve seen.
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...dark and difficult to see clearly, Martius falls into the pit. Aaron goes to find Saturninus. Martius sees Bassianus’ dead body in the pit. Quintus attempts to help him get out...
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Saturninus reads the letter, which describes a plan to kill Bassianus in return for payment in...
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Act 3, Scene 1
Aaron enters and tells Titus that Saturninus will allow Titus’ sons to be ransomed if Titus, Marcus, or Lucius will cut off...
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...revenge. He sends Lucius to go to the Goths and raise an army to challenge Saturninus. Lucius bids farewell to Rome, Lavinia, and his father, calling Titus “the woefull’st man that...
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Act 4, Scene 2
...to get a fair-skinned baby to change places with his and pose as Tamora and Saturninus’ son. He asks Demetrius and Chiron to send the midwife to him (so he may...
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Act 4, Scene 3
...rustic peasant) enters and Titus writes a message that he has the clown deliver to Saturninus.
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Act 4, Scene 4
Saturninus, attended by Tamora, Chiron, and Demetrius, is annoyed by the arrows shot by the Andronicus...
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A messenger named Aemilius arrives and tells Saturninus that Lucius is leading an army of Goths against Rome. Saturninus worries, since the Roman...
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Act 5, Scene 1
...regret is that he cannot commit more crimes. The messenger Aemilius arrives and announces that Saturninus wants to meet with Titus and Lucius at Titus’ house. Lucius agrees to the meeting.
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Act 5, Scene 3
...over Aaron until it is time to for him to reveal Aaron's relationship with Tamora. Saturninus and Tamora arrive with their attendants and agree to a peaceful meeting with Lucius. Titus...
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Titus then reveals to Saturninus that Demetrius and Chiron raped Lavinia and mutilated her. Saturninus asks for the two sons...
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...be buried chest-deep in the earth, where he will starve to death. Lucius orders for Saturninus to be brought to his family’s tomb, and for Titus and Lavinia to be buried...
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