Comparing Lavinia and Tamora
Throughout the duration of the play we have encountered thus far, there are a few noticeable similarities and differences between the two lead females, Lavinia and Tamora.
While both women are sought after; Lavinia with the brothers and Tamora with her husband and the Moor, they go about love very differently. During the first act, we see Lavinia being given away for marriage. It seems like she has no say in who she wants to be with and no one would listen to her even if she had spoken up. Another example of Lavinia’s weakness comes in 2.3:173-178 when Lavinia begs Tamora to spare her body. She pleads for her safety after death and that she can remain a virgin. She takes her innocence extremely seriously and wouldn’t trade it for anything, including her life. Tamora, on the other hand, is very lustful. Not only does she send Lavinia off to be raped by her sons, but she is about to be married/ newly married and has a lover. She and Aaron have been seen in the woods by other characters and even though they confront her about it, she continues to make a cuckold of her husband.
Another main difference between the two is the amount of power they show in this act. During Act 2, not only do we see Lavinia overruled, but she is later taken away to be raped. The next time we see her she no longer has a tongue nor hands. Another sign of her weakness in this act comes at 2.4:28 when Marcus is talking to her after the attack. He mentions her turning away in shame. This further shows Lavinia weakening throughout the play. Tamora shows the opposite in this act. She proves her strength by standing up to those who question her commitment to her husband. She also feeds Lavinia to her sons without one once of remorse. I would argue to say that she has more power than both Titus and Saturninus. She is able to control the action around her time and time again.
Not many writers during this time period allow females to be strong, why then would Shakespeare make Tamora such a strong character? Is Tamora going to eventually take over everything and come to power? Do you think the men would allow for a female to do such a thing? Also, is it Lavinia’s fault that she is taken advantage of, or did she do everything she could to possibly save herself? Finally, will Lavinia be able to overcome such a huge setback?