Marcus Cicero's Influence On Othello

Marcus Tullius Cicero

Marcus Tullius Cicero was a Roman orator, statesman and lawyer. Best known for his speeches and his role in the Catiline conspiracy, he is also considered as one of the most influential authors in the Roman Republic. He translated works from Greek into Latin and through his own works, helped to establish Latin as a prominent, intellectual language.

Early Life and Education

Marcus Tullius Cicero was born on 3 January 106 BCE in Arpinum Italy, south-east of Rome. He was the eldest son Marcus Tullius Cicero (after whom he was named) and Helvia, who were part of the equestrian order.

As a child, he was exposed to papyrus scrolls in his father’s library, and as a result of this aptitude and enthusiasm for learning, his father

In 75 BCE, Cicero began his public career as quaestor in western Sicily. He continued to gain popularity, and in 70 BCE when he prosecuted Gaius Verres, a corrupt former governor of Sicily, this helped him earn the approval of the Roman aristocracy. In 69 BCE, Cicero was aedile, two years later, he became praetor, and in 63 BCE he was elected consul, Rome’s highest elected political office at the minimum age forty-three.

After having lost several elections for consul, Catiline, another Roman politician, began forming plans and recruiting people to overthrow the Senate. Cicero, upon hearing of these plans, used his position as consul to warn the Senate and expose these plans. Due to the pending danger, on October 22, the Senatus consultum ultimum was passed by the Senate, giving Cicero absolute power. On 8 November, he delivered his first of four speeches against Catiline, who fled Rome later that night. These speeches led to Catiline’s defeat and death and Cicero ordered the conspirators to be executed without trial. Considered to be the ‘saviour’ and pater patriae (father of the fatherland) for his defeat of the Catilinarian conspiracy, this was the climax of his political

In 57-56BCE, in an attempt to save the Republic, Cicero tried to turn Pompey and Caesar against each other, however this was unsuccessful. Instead, Cicero aligned himself with the First Triumvirate in politics, despite having refused Caesar’s invitation to join in 60BCE. Cicero left Rome in 51BCE to govern the province of Cilicia. During this period as proconsul, he was seen to be just and sympathetic, unlike his predecessors with exploitative