Cicero’s role models: the political strategy of a newcomer

Autore: Blom, Henriette van der
Titolo: Cicero’s role models: the political strategy of a newcomer
Rivista/Miscellanea: Oxford classical monographs
Luogo edizione: Oxford
Editore: Oxford University Press
Anno edizione: 2010
Pagine: 388
Parole chiave: Biographie - Biografia - Biography, Histoire - Storia - History, Politique - Politica - Politics, Rhétorique - Retorica - Rhetorics
Recensione:

Culpepper Stroup, Sarah, “Bryn Mawr Classical Review” 2011.07.49.

Descrizione: This study examines Marcus Tullius Cicero’s rhetorical and political strategy in late Roman republican politics with regard to his self-advertisement as follower of chosen models of behaviour from the past—his role models or personal exempla. As an ambitious newcomer, a homo novus, in a political culture which favoured men descended from famous consuls and generals, Cicero had to devise alternative strategies to reach political office and influence. It will be argued that Cicero, through his main means to political power, his oratory, adopted the traditional claim to political offices through ancestry and adapted it to his own situation. Instead of references to the virtues and achievements of his own ancestors, Cicero presented himself as emulating specific historical figures with the purpose of building up and strengthening his public persona and thereby supporting his claim to political offices and influence. The study begins with discussions of mos, maiores and historical exempla in Roman culture and society and in Cicero’s works. These discussions show the central role of the maiores, their customs and traditions and their individual achievements in Roman political culture in general as well as Cicero’s perception thereof. This leads to a presentation of Cicero’s background and education which highlights the aspects which were crucial for his formation as an orator, author, and politician, such as his early encounters with exemplary Roman orators and politicians, and the political implications of famous ancestry or the lack of such ancestry. The subsequent analysis of Cicero’s choice and use of historical exempla in his speeches, letters, and treatises emphasizes the versatility and flexibility of such exempla and the central role of rhetorical strategy in the choice and application of historical exempla. These insights lay the foundation for the main analysis and discussion of Cicero’s selection and employment of his role models (personal exempla) in all his extant works, which show the range of Cicero’s personal exempla and the manifold ways in which Cicero employed these both to prove an immediate rhetorical and political point and to help him build up a credible and influential public persona over time. This analysis again leads on to Cicero’s self-projection as an exemplum to be followed by others and the various roles he adopted in this attempt. The study concludes with a discussion of Cicero’s choice of personal exempla and its implications for his rhetorical and political strategy [Author] Table of Contents Introduction 1. Mos, maiores, and historical exempla in Roman culture and society 2. Mos, maiores, and historical exempla in Cicero I. Cicero, the homo novus 3. Cicero’s background and education 4. Nobilis and homo novus II. Cicero’s use of historical exempla 5. Definitions of historical exempla and personal exemplum 6. The nature and functions of historical exempla III. Cicero’s role models 7. Cicero’s alternative claims to ancestry 8. Cicero’s use of personal exempla IV. Cicero as exemplum 9. Cicero’s roles as exemplum 10. An exemplum and teacher to the younger generation 11. A family exemplum Conclusion
Opere:
Sigla autore: Blom 2010