Throughout Titus Andronicus we find two leading female characters, Tamora Queen of the Goths turned Empress of Rome and Lavinia the victim of a rape that is arguably symbolic of the current chaos the country is in. Through the use of a feminist along with a slight historical analysis, I will explore the importance of these character in relation to the story and to the lead character, Titus.
In Douglas E. Greens “Interpreting ‘Her Martyr’d Signs’: Gender And Tragedy in Titus Andronicus.” Green's gender analysis of Titus Andronicus, which focus on the overshadowed female protagonist. Throughout the play characters, actions and spectacles seem to be absorbed into Titus’ character including Lavinia. He states that whenever the two of them share …show more content…
The "abduction" of an unmarried girl from her father's household in some circumstances was a matter of the couple eloping without her father's permission to marry. Rape in the English sense of "forced sex" was more often expressed as stuprum, a sex crime committed through violence. Although the Roman law in the historical period recognized rape as a crime, the rape of women is a pervasive theme not only in ancient myths and stories but also classical literature.
The rape of a female virgin is among the worst crimes that could be committed in Rome, along with parricide (the killing of a parent or other close relative) and robbing a temple. Rape was a capital crime, and the rapist was subject to execution, a rare penalty in Roman law. Not to mention that There was no statute of limitations for rape meaning that a victim, Lavinia, could get justice at any time if she was able to find a way to tell others about what had happened to …show more content…
Lavinia's fiance shouts “This maid is mine” before leaving with her like a piece of property. Throughout the argument and fighting, she remains silent. Lavinia's denial to say the word "rape" reminds the audience that even to speak of rape brings a woman shame. (Detmer-Goebel)."womanhood denies my tongue to tell" and as a "worse-than-killing lust" (2.3.174, 175). Lavinia's silence seems emblematic of the way she has been subjected to male power and authority. This becomes even more clear when her own father kills her so her "shame" will die with her. Titus compares Lavinia to Virginius' daughter (another classical rape victim) and kills her because the "shame" of her rape is too much for him to
In Douglas E. Greens “Interpreting ‘Her Martyr’d Signs’: Gender And Tragedy in Titus Andronicus.” Green's gender analysis of Titus Andronicus, which focus on the overshadowed female protagonist. Throughout the play characters, actions and spectacles seem to be absorbed into Titus’ character including Lavinia. He states that whenever the two of them share …show more content…
The "abduction" of an unmarried girl from her father's household in some circumstances was a matter of the couple eloping without her father's permission to marry. Rape in the English sense of "forced sex" was more often expressed as stuprum, a sex crime committed through violence. Although the Roman law in the historical period recognized rape as a crime, the rape of women is a pervasive theme not only in ancient myths and stories but also classical literature.
The rape of a female virgin is among the worst crimes that could be committed in Rome, along with parricide (the killing of a parent or other close relative) and robbing a temple. Rape was a capital crime, and the rapist was subject to execution, a rare penalty in Roman law. Not to mention that There was no statute of limitations for rape meaning that a victim, Lavinia, could get justice at any time if she was able to find a way to tell others about what had happened to …show more content…
Lavinia's fiance shouts “This maid is mine” before leaving with her like a piece of property. Throughout the argument and fighting, she remains silent. Lavinia's denial to say the word "rape" reminds the audience that even to speak of rape brings a woman shame. (Detmer-Goebel)."womanhood denies my tongue to tell" and as a "worse-than-killing lust" (2.3.174, 175). Lavinia's silence seems emblematic of the way she has been subjected to male power and authority. This becomes even more clear when her own father kills her so her "shame" will die with her. Titus compares Lavinia to Virginius' daughter (another classical rape victim) and kills her because the "shame" of her rape is too much for him to