War begets revenge. Victorious general, Titus Andronicus, returns to Rome
with hostages: Tamora queen of the Goths and her sons. He orders the
eldest hewn to appease the Roman dead. He declines the proffered
emperor's crown, nominating Saturninus, the last ruler's venal elder son.
Saturninus, to spite his brother Bassianus, demands the hand of Lavinia,
Titus's daughter. When Bassianus, Lavinia, and Titus's sons flee in protest,
Titus stands against them and slays one of his own. Saturninus marries the
honey-tongued Tamora, who vows vengeance against Titus. The ensuing
maelstrom serves up tongues, hands, rape, adultery, racism, and Goth-meat
pie. There's irony in which two sons survive.