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Saturninus is the eldest son of the late emperor of Rome, and he begins the play in a political contest with his brother Bassianus, who has challenged his claim to the throne. Saturninus ends up succeeding his father, but not by winning the hearts of ordinary Romans. Rather, he owes his ascension to Titus, who, in refusing the people’s wish that he become emperor, endorses Saturninus’s bid for power. From the very beginning, it’s clear that Saturninus is nothing more than the conventional choice, being the eldest son and hence first in line. Otherwise, he demonstrates no intrinsic virtue that would make him worthy. And as the play proceeds, it’s equally clear that Saturninus isn’t in full control of his realm. In making Tamora his empress, he unwittingly emboldens her to concoct her revenge plot against Titus. Though Tamora does express her desire for revenge to Saturninus, she also keeps him in the dark about the details. Working in secret with her lover Aaron, Tamora enacts a plan that involves duping Saturninus into believing that Titus’s sons killed his brother Bassianus. This act causes Saturninus to execute the alleged murderers, which then makes him a target in Titus’s counterplot. Thus, when he isn’t conniving for his own political power, he’s little more than a puppet.
