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Titus Andronicus Rape Analysis

140 Words1 Pages
In 16th Century England, the traditional Patriarchal definition of rape, which subsumed abduction, meant that laws were constructed to give the power of appeal not to the victim, but to her father or husband instead. This meant that male family members could stop females from eloping with the partner of their choice, or from escaping abusive relationships. Because the statutes didn’t value women’s voices in cases of rape, they were effectively silenced from speaking up. This is demonstrated in Act 1 Scene 1 of Titus Andronicus. Lavinia is silent when Saturninus declares he will take her as a bride, and she is not consulted – the conversation takes place between Saturninus and Titus, Lavinia’s prospective husband and her father. The Ancient
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