Act I
The play starts out with a debate between Saturninus and Bassianus over who should be ruler of Rome after the previous emperor passed. Marcus Andronicus says that Titus should inherit the crown. At that time, Titus enters with some of his sons as well as a group of captured Goths including Tamora, her sons, and Aaron the Moor. Tamora's oldest son is executed in reconciliation for the passing of many of Titus's sons. Tamora and Aaron swear vengeance against the Andronici and against Rome.
Act II
Aaron the Moor plots his revenge as Tamora's two sons, Chiron and Demetrius come in arguing over who is more deserving of Lavinia's love. Aaron convinces them they should both just rape her. Later on, Bassianus and Lavinia are in the woods and come across Tamora. Chiron and Demetrius enter, kill Bassianus, and drag Lavinia off into the woods where they have their way with her, cut off her hands, and cut out her tongue to prevent her from telling anyone who did it.
Act III
Titus's sons are framed by Aaron for the murder of Bassianus, and are carried off to their execution. Aaron tricks Titus into cutting off his hand in exchange for his son's heads. He does so, but it was all a lie, and a messenger returns carrying Titus's hand and the heads of his two sons. Titus swears revenge.
Act IV
Titus and his brother find out who raped Lavinia, and Titus swears further revenge against Tamora and her sons. Meanwhile, Lucius is exiled from Rome, and goes to the Goths to gather an army against the leaders of Rome, where some of the Goths are in command. Titus leads people to think he is going insane from the series of disturbing circumstances, and pretends to asks the gods for help with revenge.
Act V
Tamora and her sons approach Titus disguised as "Revenge," "Rape," and "Murder." Titus goes along with the ploy, and makes a fake plan with them. They are to find those he has sworn revenge upon, and kill them. Tamora departs, leaving her two sons behind. Titus kills them, and makes a pie out of them. There is a banquet held with all of the major characters present, and Tamora is tricked into eating the pie. Titus reveals this to her, and kills her, thus getting his revenge. Titus is then killed, followed by Saturninus. Lucius tells the people of Rome what has happened, and they nominate him as emperor. The play concludes with Aaron the Moor being sentenced to death by starvation and refusing to feel sorry for anything that he has done.
The play starts out with a debate between Saturninus and Bassianus over who should be ruler of Rome after the previous emperor passed. Marcus Andronicus says that Titus should inherit the crown. At that time, Titus enters with some of his sons as well as a group of captured Goths including Tamora, her sons, and Aaron the Moor. Tamora's oldest son is executed in reconciliation for the passing of many of Titus's sons. Tamora and Aaron swear vengeance against the Andronici and against Rome.
Act II
Aaron the Moor plots his revenge as Tamora's two sons, Chiron and Demetrius come in arguing over who is more deserving of Lavinia's love. Aaron convinces them they should both just rape her. Later on, Bassianus and Lavinia are in the woods and come across Tamora. Chiron and Demetrius enter, kill Bassianus, and drag Lavinia off into the woods where they have their way with her, cut off her hands, and cut out her tongue to prevent her from telling anyone who did it.
Act III
Titus's sons are framed by Aaron for the murder of Bassianus, and are carried off to their execution. Aaron tricks Titus into cutting off his hand in exchange for his son's heads. He does so, but it was all a lie, and a messenger returns carrying Titus's hand and the heads of his two sons. Titus swears revenge.
Act IV
Titus and his brother find out who raped Lavinia, and Titus swears further revenge against Tamora and her sons. Meanwhile, Lucius is exiled from Rome, and goes to the Goths to gather an army against the leaders of Rome, where some of the Goths are in command. Titus leads people to think he is going insane from the series of disturbing circumstances, and pretends to asks the gods for help with revenge.
Act V
Tamora and her sons approach Titus disguised as "Revenge," "Rape," and "Murder." Titus goes along with the ploy, and makes a fake plan with them. They are to find those he has sworn revenge upon, and kill them. Tamora departs, leaving her two sons behind. Titus kills them, and makes a pie out of them. There is a banquet held with all of the major characters present, and Tamora is tricked into eating the pie. Titus reveals this to her, and kills her, thus getting his revenge. Titus is then killed, followed by Saturninus. Lucius tells the people of Rome what has happened, and they nominate him as emperor. The play concludes with Aaron the Moor being sentenced to death by starvation and refusing to feel sorry for anything that he has done.