The Portrayal of Seneca in the Octavia and in Tacitus’ Annals.
The Portrayal of Seneca in the Octavia and in Tacitus’ Annals.
Author(s): Jakub PigońSubject(s): Applied Linguistics, Studies of Literature
Published by: Uniwersytet Adama Mickiewicza
Keywords: Seneca the Younger; Octavia Praetexta; Tacitus; Nero; characterisation in literature; Romanliterature (1st and 2nd cent. AD); Roman Empire.
Summary/Abstract: The paper examines the representation of Seneca in two literary works of the late 1st and early 2nd centuries AD, the anonymous tragedy Octavia and the Annals by Tacitus. In the Octavia Seneca appears as the emperorNero’s upright but unhappy teacher trying in vain to inculcate salutary advice to his master. There is noquestion of his being responsible for the crimes of Nero; the picture of him drawn in the play is whollyfavourable. The portrayal of Seneca in Tacitus’ Annals is more complex and nuanced, and only seldom doesthe historian give his own views about Nero’s advisor. However, it would be wrong to suppose that Seneca isharshly criticised by Tacitus.
Journal: Symbolae Philologorum Posnaniensium Graecae et Latinae
- Issue Year: XXVII/2017
- Issue No: 3
- Page Range: 169-187
- Page Count: 19
- Language: English