Titus Andronicus · Character

Tamora

The captive Queen of the Goths, paraded through Rome in chains, trades humiliation for an empress's crown and discovers that power makes revenge taste sweeter.

major

Also known as Tamora Olympus, mighty Tamora, Tamora Rapine, Rapine, Tamora King

First appearance: titus andronicus

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

Prisoner of war, marries Saturninus, publicly reconciles the factions while privately plotting revenge.

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Tamora enters Rome as Titus's prisoner, watching her eldest son butchered as a ritual offering before the city she has fought for years. Elevated to empress by Saturninus's impulsive choice, she becomes the play's most dangerous figure: patient, charming, and utterly without mercy. Her grievance against Titus is personal and precise, and her willingness to weaponize her sons, her lover Aaron, and her own imperial position sets the machinery of the tragedy in motion.

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See Tamora in titus andronicus

Character Web

19 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Romantic
Other

Character groups

Central tragic figures
Protagonist

+14 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

Titus Andronicus
rivalry · negative
Tamora seeks revenge on Titus for sacrificing her son, becoming his bitter enemy and… How this plays out →
Lucius
rivalry · negative
Saturninus
romantic · ambivalent
Lavinia
rivalry · negative
Titus Andronicus
rivalry · negative
Tamora seeks revenge on Titus for sacrificing her son, becoming his bitter enemy and… How this plays out →
Saturninus
romantic · ambivalent
Lucius
rivalry · negative
Lucius
rivalry · negative
Lavinia
rivalry · negative
Saturninus
romantic · ambivalent
Titus Andronicus
rivalry · negative
Tamora seeks revenge on Titus for sacrificing her son, becoming his bitter enemy and… How this plays out →

Titus Andronicus
Tamora seeks revenge on Titus for sacrificing her son, becoming his bitter enemy and orchestrating his family's destruction.
Lucius
Lucius despises Tamora for her role in his family's tragedies and leads forces against her and Saturninus.
Saturninus
Saturninus marries Tamora, but their relationship is based on political convenience and mutual ambition rather than genuine love.
Lavinia
Tamora enables and encourages the assault on Lavinia, viewing her as a symbol of the Andronici family she hates.
Titus Andronicus
Tamora seeks revenge on Titus for sacrificing her son, becoming his bitter enemy and orchestrating his family's destruction.
Saturninus
Saturninus marries Tamora, but their relationship is based on political convenience and mutual ambition rather than genuine love.
Lucius
Lucius despises Tamora for her role in his family's tragedies and leads forces against her and Saturninus.
Lucius
Lucius despises Tamora for her role in his family's tragedies and leads forces against her and Saturninus.
Lavinia
Tamora enables and encourages the assault on Lavinia, viewing her as a symbol of the Andronici family she hates.
Saturninus
Saturninus marries Tamora, but their relationship is based on political convenience and mutual ambition rather than genuine love.
Titus Andronicus
Tamora seeks revenge on Titus for sacrificing her son, becoming his bitter enemy and orchestrating his family's destruction.

Relationship notes

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

See Tamora in titus andronicus

In the story

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

Scene I
Prisoner of war, marries Saturninus, publicly reconciles the factions while privately plotting revenge.
Scene I
Described by Aaron as newly elevated empress, 'Semiramis' and 'siren'; her wit and influence are to be enlisted in the plot.
Scene II
Accompanies Saturninus as his bride, observes the Roman hunting.
Scene III
Attempts to seduce Aaron; confronts Bassianus and Lavinia; presents forged letter to Saturninus to incriminate Titus's sons.
Scene II
Mentioned as the mother of Aaron's child, sending the nurse with orders to kill it.
Scene IV
Publicly calms Saturninus while privately plotting to 'enchant' Titus with sweet words to undermine him.
Scene I
Referred to as the empress and mother of Aaron's child.
Scene II
Disguises herself as Revenge to manipulate Titus into summoning Lucius, but Titus sees through her ruse.
Scene III
Eats the pie containing her sons' flesh, then is killed by Titus.

Chapter companion notes

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See Tamora in titus andronicus

See Tamora in Scene I