Auteur: Cristea, George Bogdan
Titre: Oratory and Theatre in the Late Roman Republic Cicero as Actor in the Perorations of His Speeches
Revue/Collection: Hermes, 152, 2
Annèe edition: 2024
Pages: 165-190
Mots-clès: Rhétorique - Retorica - Rhetorics
Description: Starting from the relationship between oratory and theatre in ancient Rome, the article focuses on Cicero’s histrionic performances during the perorations of his speeches. I argue that his acting stems from his persona, which I understand as a rhetorical construct consisting of his public ethos (persona oratoris) and of his capacity to create and perform a plethora of dramatic rôles (persona rhetorica). I analyse the dynamics of the relationship between these two components of Cicero’s persona and establish that, from a tentative presence whose purpose was to complement an insecure persona oratoris in the early speeches, persona rhetorica becomes an autonomous dramatic fiction matching Cicero’s auctoritas in 63-59 BC, after which it progressively takes over his perorations [Author].
Sigle auteur: Cristea 2024
Titre: Oratory and Theatre in the Late Roman Republic Cicero as Actor in the Perorations of His Speeches
Revue/Collection: Hermes, 152, 2
Annèe edition: 2024
Pages: 165-190
Mots-clès: Rhétorique - Retorica - Rhetorics
Description: Starting from the relationship between oratory and theatre in ancient Rome, the article focuses on Cicero’s histrionic performances during the perorations of his speeches. I argue that his acting stems from his persona, which I understand as a rhetorical construct consisting of his public ethos (persona oratoris) and of his capacity to create and perform a plethora of dramatic rôles (persona rhetorica). I analyse the dynamics of the relationship between these two components of Cicero’s persona and establish that, from a tentative presence whose purpose was to complement an insecure persona oratoris in the early speeches, persona rhetorica becomes an autonomous dramatic fiction matching Cicero’s auctoritas in 63-59 BC, after which it progressively takes over his perorations [Author].
Sigle auteur: Cristea 2024
