Female Literacy in Titus Andronicus

In Titus, literacy, particularly Lavinia’s literacy, drives the action of the play through its references to Ovidian rape narratives, which Lavinia attempts to control through her education and expertise. In this tragedy, the Ovidian rape narratives inspire revenge and take Lavinia into the horrific green world and finally out the other side to a place where, though mutilated, she is able to connect and communicate through Shakespeare’s manipulation of Ovid.