Titus Andronicus · Character

Marcus Andronicus

Titus's brother and Rome's tribune, a man of measured speech and upright conscience who can only watch as his family is dismantled piece by piece.

major

Also known as Marcus, gentle Marcus, Marcus Titus, Marcus O Titus, Marcus Alas, Marcus Kinsmen, Marcus Rome, Marcus Ay, Marcus Fie, Marcus O Publius

First appearance: titus andronicus

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

Tribune who announces Titus's election and later supports the reconciliation.

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Marcus Andronicus opens the play by nominating his brother for emperor and closes it by trying to make sense of the wreckage. As tribune, he represents Rome's institutional conscience—reasonable, eloquent, and tragically ineffectual against the forces Titus's return has unleashed. His discovery of the mutilated Lavinia and his attempts to govern his brother's grief mark him as the play's witness, a man whose virtue offers no protection against the violence consuming his house.

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See Marcus Andronicus in titus andronicus

Character Web

17 connections

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

Relationship types

Family
Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Central tragic figures
Protagonist

+12 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

Lucius
family · positive
Lucius and his uncle Marcus are close allies, working together to avenge the family's… How this plays out →
Lavinia
family · positive
Titus Andronicus
family · positive
Aaron
rivalry · negative
Lavinia
family · positive
Lucius
family · positive
Lucius and his uncle Marcus are close allies, working together to avenge the family's… How this plays out →
Titus Andronicus
family · positive
Aaron
rivalry · negative
Titus Andronicus
family · positive

Lucius
Lucius and his uncle Marcus are close allies, working together to avenge the family's wrongs and restore order.
Lavinia
Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her assault and mutilation.
Titus Andronicus
Marcus is Titus's brother, a loyal supporter who shares his grief and participates in his revenge plot.
Aaron
Aaron is an antagonist to Marcus, whose family he systematically destroys through manipulation and violence.
Lavinia
Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her assault and mutilation.
Lucius
Lucius and his uncle Marcus are close allies, working together to avenge the family's wrongs and restore order.
Titus Andronicus
Marcus is Titus's brother, a loyal supporter who shares his grief and participates in his revenge plot.
Aaron
Aaron is an antagonist to Marcus, whose family he systematically destroys through manipulation and violence.
Titus Andronicus
Marcus is Titus's brother, a loyal supporter who shares his grief and participates in his revenge plot.

Relationship notes

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

See Marcus Andronicus in titus andronicus

In the story

Marcus Andronicus appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene I
Tribune who announces Titus's election and later supports the reconciliation.
Scene II
Boasts of his dogs' prowess in the hunt.
Scene IV
Discovers Lavinia and delivers a sorrowful lament over her condition.
Scene I
Brings the mutilated Lavinia to Titus and laments the family's tragic state.
Scene II
Attempts to comfort Titus and Lavinia, kills a fly, and uses the act to humor Titus.
Scene I
Marcus helps Lavinia communicate by guiding her to write in the sand and swears revenge alongside Titus.
Scene III
Participates in Titus's scheme and suggests joining with the Goths for revenge.
Scene II
Sent by Titus to summon Lucius to the feast.
Scene III
Attempts to calm the Romans and later supports Lucius as emperor.

Chapter companion notes

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See Marcus Andronicus in titus andronicus

See Marcus Andronicus in Scene I