# Marcus Andronicus — Titus Andronicus character guide

> Marcus Andronicus in Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** 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:** 0000-titus-andronicus

## Snapshot

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.

## Who they are

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.

## Relationships

### [Lucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lucius)

_family_

Lucius and his uncle Marcus are close allies, working together to avenge the family's wrongs and restore order.

### [Lavinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lavinia)

_family_

Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her assault and mutilation.

### [Titus Andronicus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/titus_andronicus)

_family_

Marcus is Titus's brother, a loyal supporter who shares his grief and participates in his revenge plot.

### [Aaron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/aaron)

_rivalry_

Aaron is an antagonist to Marcus, whose family he systematically destroys through manipulation and violence.

### [Lavinia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lavinia)

_family_

Marcus is Lavinia's uncle, and he is deeply protective and grief-stricken after her assault and mutilation.

### [Lucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/lucius)

_family_

Lucius and his uncle Marcus are close allies, working together to avenge the family's wrongs and restore order.

### [Titus Andronicus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/titus_andronicus)

_family_

Marcus is Titus's brother, a loyal supporter who shares his grief and participates in his revenge plot.

### [Aaron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/aaron)

_rivalry_

Aaron is an antagonist to Marcus, whose family he systematically destroys through manipulation and violence.

### [Titus Andronicus](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/titus_andronicus)

_family_

Marcus is Titus's brother, a loyal supporter who shares his grief and participates in his revenge plot.

## In the story

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-i-scene-i)

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

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Boasts of his dogs' prowess in the hunt.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv)

Discovers Lavinia and delivers a sorrowful lament over her condition.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Brings the mutilated Lavinia to Titus and laments the family's tragic state.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii)

Attempts to comfort Titus and Lavinia, kills a fly, and uses the act to humor Titus.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

Marcus helps Lavinia communicate by guiding her to write in the sand and swears revenge alongside Titus.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-iii)

Participates in Titus's scheme and suggests joining with the Goths for revenge.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-v-scene-ii)

Sent by Titus to summon Lucius to the feast.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/chapters/act-v-scene-iii)

Attempts to calm the Romans and later supports Lucius as emperor.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters/marcus_andronicus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/titus_andronicus_se/characters