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Titus’s son Lucius reveals that he
has been banished, and sees the
mutilated Lavinia. Aaron tells Titus
that if he, Martius, or Lucius will
cut off his hand and send it to the
emperor, his sons’ lives will be
spared. Titus sends his own hand,
which is returned to him, with the
heads of Martius and Quintus.
Lavinia writes the names of
her attackers in the sand. Marcus,
Titus, Young Lucius, and Lavinia
swear an oath of vengeance.
The Nurse brings to Aaron an
infant—his child with Tamora—
and tells him that because the
child is black, Tamora wishes it
killed. Aaron plots to swap it for
a white infant, and to have the
latter’s parents bring up his child.
When news arrives that Lucius
is returning with Goth troops,
Tamora promises to persuade Titus
to call off the attack. In disguise
as Revenge, with Demetrius and
Chiron as Murder and Rape, she
visits Titus whom she thinks does
not recognize them. She asks him
to invite Lucius to a banquet,
where she will bring Saturninus
and the Empress. Tamora leaves
her sons with Titus, who kills them.THE FREELANCE WRITER
3.1
4.1 4.3 5.1
4.2 4.4 5.2
Titus cuts off his hand
in an attempt to save his
sons, but Aaron has
tricked him and sends
back his sons’ heads.
Lavinia uses Ovid’s
poem Metamorphoses
to tell her family
that she was raped.Titus, now
apparently driven
mad, seeks divine
justice.Lucius threatens to
hang Aaron and his
child but Aaron promises
to divulge his secrets.Tamora orders that
her newborn child
with Aaron should be
killed because it is
black. Aaron kills the
nurse who brings it
to him and saves
the child.Lucius is returning to
Rome with the Goth troops.
Tamora promises to persuade
Titus to stop the attack.Tamora, disguised
as Revenge, invites
Titus to hold a
banquet at his
house. Titus slits
the throats of
Chiron and
Demetrius.5.3
At the banquet, Titus
feeds Tamora a pie
baked from her
sons’ flesh. Tamora,
Titus, and Saturninus
are all killed, and
Lucius becomes
emperor of Rome.Act 3 Act 4 Act 5
Titus, dressed as a cook, presides
over the banquet at his house. He
kills Lavinia in front of his guests,
saying that she had been raped
by Chiron and Demetrius, both of
whom have been baked in the pie
the guests have been eating. He
stabs Tamora, and Saturninus kills
Titus. Lucius then kills Saturninus.
Marcus and Lucius tell the Roman
people what has happened and
Lucius is named emperor. Aaron
is sentenced to death. Saturninus,
Titus, and Lavinia are interred in
their family tombs, but Tamora is
denied any funeral rites. ❯❯