Cicero believed that a good orator must do three things in his speech: earn the favor of the audience, provide persuasive arguments, and move the audience with emotional appeals. In his defense of Marcus Caelius Rufus one finds an excellent example of Cicero’s work and through close examination can glean some additional information about what Cicero felt was needed in a good speech. With such scrutiny it becomes readily apparent that each of the three objectives need not be attained equally. Because
Influence of the Roman Theater on Cicero’s Oration Pro Caelia By Cicero’s oration in defense of M. Caelius Rufus shows many substantive and stylistic borrowings from the Roman Theater, particularly the comedies of the 2nd century b.c.e. This would scarcely seem remarkable to Cicero, to employ such devices is only to make use of the tools of his trade, as a practical and practicing rhetorician. In this case using the theater as a framing device to guide his audience’s response. So too would
The Life and Influence of Clodia Metelli Throughout history, there have been countless women who have seized the opportunities afforded to them by fate to their advantage. Despite the oppression of patriarchal societies, these pioneers carved a place for themselves on the walls of the past. Clodia Metelli, who was a Roman aristocrat born in 95 BC, was one of most enigmatic female figures to emerge from ancient Rome. Clodia was a descendant of a powerful line of politicians, so she was soon swept