In the prose, the moral question the author poses is the sanctity of promise-keeping. The author uses Regulus to show self-sacrifice 'rediret ipse Karthaginem' if Rome does not release the Cartheginaian prisoners. He highlights Regulus' courage when he talks about how not even the love of his family and his country could keep him back 'caritas patriae retinuit nec suorum'. In the final sentence he emphasises Regulus' vow to keep to an oath sworn to the enemy, here Regulus knows he is setting off for a cruel death but his mind is only on 'ius iurandum conservandum'.
The author employs the subjunctive in several ways: with the pluperfect alongside ‘cum’ as a temporal clause and again with the pluperfect after ‘ut’ to express a wishful purpose ‘ut…redditi essent’. He makes good use of pronouns, such as reflexive pronoun ‘se’, the interrogative pronoun ‘quis’ and the demonstrative pronoun ‘is’. He uses the words 'utilitatis' 'utilia' 'utile' to emphasise that Regulus was making this self-sacrifice for the greater good of his country.
The author employs rhetorical questioning to further favour Regulus’ actions, for example ‘quis haec negat esse utilia?’ can only be answered that nobody can deny these useful things except for a great soul and courage which is what the author is saying Regulus has. Also ‘itaque quid fecit?’ to give a sense of there was not much else to do but go to the senate and explain his idea to keep the youthful prisoners over his aged self.
In the verse passage the author builds up a picture of Regulus’ character by starting with the conjunction ‘atqui’ which taken to mean ‘and yet’ gives a general meaning of opposition, so that already it is clear Regulus was fully aware of what was in store for him despite agreeing to it. In the second line the author employs two present participles to show a contrast between the types of people preventing his departure. He describes how the people Regulus knew well, the ‘propinquos’ were physically standing in his way to stop him from going ‘obstantes‘, whilst the crowd, the ’populum’, were merely delaying it ’morantem’. Next, the author illustrates Regulus’ exit by comparing it to some minor business that he has to tend to, he uses the imperfect subjunctive with ‘relinqueret’ as though it were just a holiday he was taking to the countryside of Venafranus or Tarentum.
...ation and well being of a country, people, and republic. “‘This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of great Caesar; he, only in a general honest thought and common good to all, made one of them’”(998). Although a seemingly menacing traitor to his country at first, Brutus makes the journey to a sympathetic and noble tragic hero in the end.
Odysseus’s revenge towards the suitors, whose only crime was the crime of theft, was unnecessarily cruel, after all, a hero must be able to forgive. It has been twenty years since anyone on Ithaka have seen, or even heard news about Odysseus. Therfore, it would have been perfectly pliable to pronounce him dead. “ He has been gone for twenty years.” The people of Ithaka were all under the impression that Odysseus, has in fact, passed a...
The creation of the body which allowed the tribunes to check the consul. The ending of the chapter goes on to explain how Coriolanus, who had been driven into exile and had been made general of the Volsci, had led a hostile army nearly to Rome, and when the envoys who had been sent to him at first, and how his mother Veturia and his wife Volumnia persuaded him to withdraw. This chapter also showcases how Spurius Cassius, the ex-consul, charged with aspiring to be king, was condemned and put to death. Lastly, When Appius Claudius the consul had sustained a defeat at the hands of the
“Wherefore rejoice? What conquest brings he home? - What tributaries follow him to Rome, To grace in captive bonds his chariot-wheels?”
What follows is a further isolation of Plutarch's opinions and lessons from within The Lives of Crassus and Caesar. " Certainly the Romans say that in the case of Crassus many virtues were obscured by one vice, namely avarice; and it did seem that he had only one vice, since it was such a predominant one that other evil propensities which he may have had were scarcely noticeable. " Beginning the Life of Crassus with this statement, Plutarch starts the reader off with a negative feeling of who Crassus was. This statement is very strong because it not only points out Crassus's largest shortcoming, but also implies that it was so prevalent that it outweighed all his virtues as well as his other faults.
Tacitus’s father-in-law, Gnaeus Julius Agricola, was a Roman general involved in the Briton resistance, so this provided him with an insight into the Britons’ society. Therefore, with his experience in the Roman political sphere and Agricola’s imparted knowledge, Tacitus was well equipped to write this speech. For clarity’s sake, the names “Tacitus” and “Galgacus” will be interchangeable as Tacitus wrote this under Galgacus’ name. The speech begins with Galgacus declaring that unification freedom, which sug...
...for success, he robs his audience of the right to make certain determinations about characters such as Tarquin Superbus and Romulus because of his bias toward the motivation behind their actions. Livy’s The Rise of Rome was a grand effort and an amazing undertaking. Cataloguing the years of Roman history consolidated rumor and legend into fact, creating a model for Rome to follow. Livy’s only error in this vast undertaking was in imprinting his own conception of morality and justice onto his work, an error that pulls the reader away from active thought and engaging debate. In doing so, Livy may have helped solidify a better Rome, but it would have been a Rome with less of a conception of why certain things are just, and more of a flat, basely concluded concept of justice.
As we regained consciousness one by one, we found ourselves on a deserted island. After gathering all the food and supplies we could find, it was decided that certain rules should be enacted so we may live together civilly. We need to maintain our politeness and courtesy as we do not know how long we may be stranded on the island. To preserve what we have left, the first rule that should be enacted must benefit the group as a whole. The rule to have every able bodied individual work to benefit the group. That means that a person must work at gather food, water, build shelter, and any other tasks that are required. This should be the most important rule as it will maintain order and will provide justice in our group.
While Romulus is credited for exemplifying many of Rome;’s fundamental values, his reign over Rome is one that is infamous for its abundant bloodshed, violence against Rome’s neighbouring cities and demonstrations of his accumulated power. In comparison to Romulus’ rule, King Numa Pompilius reign is filled with undisturbed peace and coexistence in Rome and its neighbouring communities. Romulus often resorts to utilizing methods like violence or deceit to achieve his aspirations for the glory of Rome. One of the very first of Romulus’ acts of violence “to obtain sole power” (Livy 37) is to brutally murder his own twin brother, Remus in an angry fit of rage. The murder of Remus is a reflection of Romulus’ violent, ruthless nature and demonstrates the drastic measures he will go to achieve ultimate power. “To increase the dignity and impressiveness of his [ki...
It is also interesting to note that Augustus is never referred to as an Emperor in this text- this is the best evidence of how the Res Gestae was tailored to please the people as much as possible, as the title Emperor shows the power Augustus had too clearly- the Romans had a hatred of dictators and tyrants inspired by the Roman Kingdom. Instead of referring to himself as Emperor, Augustus uses his consulship or tribunician power for a time frame,
... for seemingly sympathetic or admirable portrayals of Roman enemies, but in this case it is a facile one. Using all the mechanisms mentioned, Tacitus rather seems to be interested in reminding his readers of the humanity even of Rome's enemies, identifying them with an earlier vision of Rome itself and pointing out the ways in which dishonorable acts on the part of Romans can lead to unnecessary bloodshed and carnage. The Romans made the Iceni into rebels, goading them into war (in Tacitus' phrasing), and then were obliged to put down the rebellion which was essentially of their own creation. In the Annales, Tacitus gently reminds that recognizing the common humanity even of barbarians can avert war and lead to a more humane and honorable way of life.
... His reforms, as far-reaching as they initially were, were short lived, and were annulled soon after his retirement. He thought that the People, meeting in the Concilium Plebis, were an unrepresentative and irresponsible body unworthy to govern, but he largely failed to infuse a new sense of responsibility to the Senate (Appian in Williams, p.149). Above all, arrangements to control the advancement of men through the Cursus Honorum –the threat from which his own career had so nakedly demonstrated – were clearly inadequate against men of determined ambition (Massie, p. 176). In final analysis, Sulla’s actions as a politician and a military leader, while occasionally bringing him prestige - dignatas, were major factors leading to the subsequent weakening of the Republic.
...the Capitol before the Senate change their minds. Because Caesar does not want to give the image that he is weak, Decius includes the image of “break up the Senate till another time, when Caesar’s wife shall meet with better dreams.” Caesar does not want the Romans to think of him as weak, hiding behind a woman, so he is going to go to the Capitol. Decius attempts to make staying home sound weak, and Caesar does not want to appear weak. Decius’s argument in the second half is very effective, as it focuses on the things that Caesar himself is concerned with, which is power and money.
Rome, even at its beginnings, proved to be a force to be reckoned with. It’s rapid growth and accumulation of power and repeated victories over powerful neighbors set Rome in a position of great authority and influence. As the leader of early Rome, Romulus’ effective command of his men and governance of his people provided the foundation for the building of a great city. Livy emphasizes Romulus’ possible divine origins and strong ties to deities as a validation and reinforcement of his ability to rule. A nation’s sole defense cannot be just bricks and mortar, it requires an army and a will and Romulus was able to successfully take action against the aggressors when action was needed.
Brutus feels a great friendship with Caesar, but he is afraid that Caesar will turn away from Rome and his people once in power. "I know no personal cause to spurn at him… how that might change his nature…" (II.I) He has great respect for his friend Caesar even though he knows he must put him to d...