Titus Andronicus · Character

Lavinia

Titus's daughter, Rome's ornament, whose loyalty to Bassianus defies an emperor and whose mutilated silence becomes the play's most devastating testimony.

major

Also known as Gracious Lavinia, sweet Lavinia, Gentle Lavinia, Seizing Lavinia, Lavinia Ay, Lavinia Sweet lords

First appearance: titus andronicus

As a major figure in Titus Andronicus, Lavinia is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Betrothed to Saturninus but then claimed by Bassianus, leading to a public confrontation.

In the storyScene IOpen this moment free

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Lavinia stands at the center of Rome's succession crisis as the woman Bassianus claims against Saturninus's imperial will, a choice that makes her a target for Tamora's household. Proud, articulate, and quick to name tyranny when she sees it, she is reduced to a body that can only gesture and a mouth that cannot speak. Her suffering transforms her father's grief into something monstrous, and her presence—bleeding, silent, unavenged—drives the play's middle act toward its terrible resolution.

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See Lavinia in titus andronicus

Character Web

16 connections

A slice of how Lavinia sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Psychological
Social
Rivalry

Character groups

Central tragic figures
Protagonist

+11 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book.

Setup
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This scene is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological breaking point where Titus shifts from pa…

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Relationships

Marcus Andronicus
family · positive
Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her… How this plays out →
Demetrius
psychological · negative
Lucius
family · positive
Saturninus
social · negative
Aaron
psychological · negative
Tamora
rivalry · negative
Titus Andronicus
family · positive
Marcus Andronicus
family · positive
Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her… How this plays out →
Titus Andronicus
family · positive
Demetrius
psychological · negative
Lucius
family · positive
Tamora
rivalry · negative

Marcus Andronicus
Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her assault and mutilation.
Demetrius
Demetrius, along with his brother, rapes and mutilates Lavinia, treating her as a victim of their brutal lust and cruelty.
Lucius
Lavinia is Lucius's sister, and he is devastated by her suffering, seeking vengeance on her behalf.
Saturninus
Lavinia is initially betrothed to Saturninus but is forcibly taken by Bassianus, creating political friction.
Aaron
Aaron delights in Lavinia's suffering, orchestrating her rape and mutilation as part of his revenge against the Andronici.
Tamora
Tamora enables and encourages the assault on Lavinia, viewing her as a symbol of the Andronici family she hates.
Titus Andronicus
Lavinia is Titus's beloved daughter, and her horrific fate drives him to madness and bloody revenge.
Marcus Andronicus
Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her assault and mutilation.
Titus Andronicus
Lavinia is Titus's beloved daughter, and her horrific fate drives him to madness and bloody revenge.
Demetrius
Demetrius, along with his brother, rapes and mutilates Lavinia, treating her as a victim of their brutal lust and cruelty.
Lucius
Lavinia is Lucius's sister, and he is devastated by her suffering, seeking vengeance on her behalf.
Tamora
Tamora enables and encourages the assault on Lavinia, viewing her as a symbol of the Andronici family she hates.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Lavinia in titus andronicus

In the story

Lavinia appears across 11 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene I
Betrothed to Saturninus but then claimed by Bassianus, leading to a public confrontation.
Scene I
Object of the brothers' lust; Aaron compares her to Lucrece and targets her for rape.
Scene II
States she has been awake for two hours, accompanies Bassianus.
Scene III
Taunts Tamora about her affair; is dragged off by Demetrius and Chiron to be raped.
Scene IV
Found by Marcus, her hands cut off and tongue cut out, unable to speak or write.
Scene I
Presented after being raped and mutilated, unable to speak or use her hands, she kisses Titus in a gesture of comfort.
Scene II
Present and communicating through signs, her muteness and grief are central to the scene.
Scene I
Lavinia, unable to speak, uses Ovid's Metamorphoses and writes in the sand to reveal that Chiron and Demetrius raped her.
Scene I
Mentioned as having been raped and mutilated by Chiron and Demetrius.
Scene II
Holds a basin to catch the blood of Chiron and Demetrius as Titus kills them.
Scene III
Killed by her father Titus to end her shame.

Chapter companion notes

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See Lavinia in titus andronicus

See Lavinia in Scene I