 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.