Character Analysis: Lavinia
In the play, Titus Andronicus, Lavinia is mostly recognized for her chastity, virtue, innocence, and her dutifulness, while the conflict of revenge robs her of these very characteristics. The characters in the play only recognize Lavinia for these qualities, and do not consider her personality or who she is as a human being. She is the very possession these men lust for and why her family values her so much. After her terrible tragedy, she is no longer desirable, not only to the lustful men, but her family as well. Lavinia's newly formed handicaps are what fuel the fire for the vengeance Titus and Lucius obsess over. The basic idea of revenge is what makes this particular play function. Lavinia contributes to a lot of the obsession of revenge due to her horrible tragedy. Her sweet and innocent character can transform people from being once humane, into vengeful beasts. For example, right before her fate, Lavinia pleads with Tamora to please do not let Chiron and Demetrius rape her, but kill her instead. Tamora refuses to listen to her pleas and Lavinia replies, "No grace? No womanhood? Ah, beastly creature!/The blot and enemy to our general name!/Confusion fall-." (line 930, Act 2, scene 3). Tamora
The tables have turned and now Tamora has the control to get back at Titus through Lavina, which she does out of retribution for her loss. The play even manages to take the sweetest and most innocent character and turn her into a supporter of vengeance. She supports him spiritually in his quest for vengeance. Once again this shows just how obsessed all the characters are with revenge, and how, at this point, Lavinia is the main cause of this vengeance. She was definitely the fuel for the fire of the revenge confronted in the play. All the characters are completely obsessed with the idea. At the beginning of the play, it's interesting to see how Lavinia seemed to be the only sweet and innocent possession the Romans had left. His anger and hurt are too much and his character cannot take it, "It was my deer; and he wounded her/ Hath hurt me more than killed me dead:/ For now I stand upon a rock/ Environed with a wilderness of sea,/ Who marks the waxing tide grow wave by wave,/ Expecting ever when some envious surge/ Will in his brinish bowels swallow him. Lavinia's character was so rare and represented the good in people, if there was any left. He feels the same remorse as Titus and vows to regain vengeance upon their enemies. I feel very sorry for the family members in this play that lost loved ones, but my most sympathy goes out to Lavinia. When Titus encounters what has happened to his beautiful daughter, he transforms from a noble Roman to a vengeful beast. It was almost like she was an obstacle of Rome's way of life, that is, to fight and gain revenge.
Common topics in this essay:
Rome SaturnineLine,
Titus Lavina,
Lucius Lucius,
Andronicus Lavinia,
Titus Lucius,
Chiron Demetrius,
Titus Lucius',
Tamora Lavinia's,
fuel fire,
Analysis Lavinia,
3 scene 1,
act 3 scene,
vengeful beasts,
innocent character,
sweet innocent,
3 scene,
act 3,
idea revenge,
scene 1,
obsession revenge,
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