Tamora’s Monologue from Titus Andronicus, Act 2, Scene 3: "Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?"
Synopsis
Tamora, Queen of the Goths, recounts her supposed victimization to her sons, Chiron and Demetrius. She claims that she has been lured into a desolate, cursed place by Bassianus and Lavinia, where they insulted and threatened her with death. Her monologue is manipulative and calculated, designed to provoke her sons into exacting brutal revenge on her behalf.
What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?
Tamora, along with her sons Chiron and Demetrius, conspires to take revenge on Titus Andronicus’s family. In this scene, she fabricates a story of her mistreatment by Bassianus and Lavinia to incite her sons to violence.
Original Text
*"Have I not reason, think you, to look pale?
These two have ‘ticed me hither to this place:
A barren detested vale, you see it is;
The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean,
O’ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe;
Here never shines the sun, here nothing breeds
Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven.
And when they show’d me this abhorred pit,
They told me here at dead time of the night
A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes,
Ten thousand swelling toads, as many urchins,
Would make such fearful and confused cries
As any mortal body hearing it
Should straight fall mad, or else die suddenly.
No sooner had they told this hellish tale,
But straight they told me they would bind me here
Unto the body of a dismal yew
And leave me to this miserable death.
And then they call’d me foul adulteress,
Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms
That ever ear did hear to such effect.
And, had you not by wondrous fortune come,
This vengeance on me had they executed.
Revenge it, as you love your mother’s life,
Or be ye not henceforth called my children."*
Translation of Text into Contemporary Language
*"Don’t I have a reason to look pale?
Those two lured me here to this place:
A cursed, barren valley—you can see it for yourself.
Even though it’s summer, the trees are bare and sickly,
Covered in moss and sinister mistletoe.
No sunlight ever shines here, and nothing lives
Except for the owl and the deadly raven.
When they showed me this horrible pit,
They said that at midnight
A thousand demons, a thousand hissing snakes,
Ten thousand bloated toads, and just as many hedgehogs
Would make such terrifying, chaotic noises
That anyone who heard them would either go mad
Or drop dead on the spot.
No sooner had they told me this horrifying tale,
Than they said they would tie me to
The trunk of a grim, ancient yew tree
And leave me here to die a miserable death.
Then they called me a filthy adulteress,
A lustful Goth, and hurled every vile insult
You can imagine at me.
If you hadn’t arrived by some incredible chance,
They would have carried out their revenge on me.
Take revenge for me now, if you value your mother’s life—
Or don’t call yourselves my children anymore."*
Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words
‘Ticed: Enticed or lured.
Vale: Valley.
Baleful: Sinister or harmful.
Urchins: Hedgehogs, often associated with witchcraft or ill omens.
Dead time of the night: Midnight, traditionally considered a haunted or cursed time.
Lascivious Goth: Lustful or sexually immoral woman, used as an insult.
Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing with Acting Notes
"Have I not reason, think you, to look pale? These two have ‘ticed me hither to this place: A barren detested vale, you see it is;"
Acting Note: Start with a tone of indignation and fear. Tamora seeks to garner sympathy and shock her sons with the gravity of her situation."The trees, though summer, yet forlorn and lean, O’ercome with moss and baleful mistletoe; Here never shines the sun, here nothing breeds Unless the nightly owl or fatal raven."
Acting Note: Paint the scene vividly. Tamora’s descriptions should feel eerie and ominous, drawing her audience into the cursed atmosphere."And when they show’d me this abhorred pit, They told me here at dead time of the night A thousand fiends, a thousand hissing snakes..."
Acting Note: Build intensity as you recount the terrifying imagery. Use pacing to convey both horror and dramatic exaggeration."No sooner had they told this hellish tale, But straight they told me they would bind me here Unto the body of a dismal yew..."
Acting Note: Let your voice reflect rising desperation and outrage. Tamora manipulates her sons’ emotions, aiming to provoke anger."And then they call’d me foul adulteress, Lascivious Goth, and all the bitterest terms That ever ear did hear to such effect."
Acting Note: Infuse these lines with hurt and fury. Highlight Tamora’s indignation at being insulted and degraded."And, had you not by wondrous fortune come, This vengeance on me had they executed."
Acting Note: Transition to relief and gratitude. Tamora emphasizes the near miss to heighten the urgency of her plea."Revenge it, as you love your mother’s life, Or be ye not henceforth called my children."
Acting Note: End with commanding authority. Tamora’s tone should be forceful and unwavering, demanding action from her sons.
Journey Keypoints
Hook: Tamora begins by describing her pale demeanor, immediately grabbing attention.
Turning Point: Her vivid description of the cursed vale transitions into an emotional recounting of the threats she faced.
Climax: Tamora’s indignation peaks as she relives the insults and humiliation she endured.
Resolution: She appeals to her sons’ love and loyalty, delivering a direct call for revenge.
Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role
Jessica Lange (New York Shakespeare Festival, 1987)
Diana Rigg (Royal Shakespeare Company, 1985)
Katy Stephens (Royal Shakespeare Company, 2009)
Indira Varma (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2014)
Explore the dark manipulation and commanding power of Tamora with ACS Drama School Audition Coaching. Learn to deliver this monologue with vivid imagery and emotional intensity. Start your journey today at ACS Drama School Audition Coaching.