Post by artsykat on Oct 6, 2016 2:05:43 GMT
In The Story of Manlius of the Twisted Chain, I really see Livy showing two things at once. One, the greatness of Rome, and two, the competitiveness of Rome. (More like what Rome thinks they have to do to remain the biggest and baddest.)
This story is about a young man named Titus Manlius, who's father, Lucius Manlius, is a dictator and is known to be a fowl man with a haughty temper. Lucius, according to the people, banished his son who was not condemned of any crime . Later, do to circumstances, Titus returns to his father threatening him at knife point that if he doesn't give him power and stuff than he's going to kill him. Lucius gives in. Later several wars are waged, and Titus and the Roman army goes up against the Gauls.
Here there is an interesting scene. Titus, an average looking guy, with not much experience, goes and fights against a very intimating Gaul-soldier. A few moments later, Titus comes out victorious. That duel decided the outcome of the war.
To me, this represents the way Livy want's us to see Rome. Small and average looking, but can and will take down those who stand in their way. Later, many wars are won in Rome's favor, once again show casing the greatness of Rome.
However, twenty years later, the Latins declare war on Rome. Certain things happen and Titus breaks one of his commands and involves himself in a duel between a Latin soldier. Titus wins the match, and tells his father, who is the Counsul about it. When his father hears about this and realizes that he disobeyed his command, orders him to be put to death, so that the rules Titus broke may be put in place again.
This to me show the strict rules that Rome had and that obedience is a must. Livy is showing here two sides in which we can understand from. One, that the father did what he did for the sake of Rome and its rules, maybe also to show what a leader must be? And two, that what leaders have to do are morally wrong, even if they think their doing it for the greater cause. A sign of the last point come from the end, when Livy says that all the young man regarded Lucius with hatred for the rest of their lives. In the end, it seems like evil triumphs, an interesting ending and I wonder way he ended it that way...
"As for Titus Manlius the father, when he came back in triumph to Rome (for the Romans were victorious in the war, as will be told hereafter) the elders only went forth to meet him; the young men, both then and ever afterward, so long as he lived, turned from him with hatred and curses."
This is more like a report than a point lol.
This story is about a young man named Titus Manlius, who's father, Lucius Manlius, is a dictator and is known to be a fowl man with a haughty temper. Lucius, according to the people, banished his son who was not condemned of any crime . Later, do to circumstances, Titus returns to his father threatening him at knife point that if he doesn't give him power and stuff than he's going to kill him. Lucius gives in. Later several wars are waged, and Titus and the Roman army goes up against the Gauls.
Here there is an interesting scene. Titus, an average looking guy, with not much experience, goes and fights against a very intimating Gaul-soldier. A few moments later, Titus comes out victorious. That duel decided the outcome of the war.
To me, this represents the way Livy want's us to see Rome. Small and average looking, but can and will take down those who stand in their way. Later, many wars are won in Rome's favor, once again show casing the greatness of Rome.
However, twenty years later, the Latins declare war on Rome. Certain things happen and Titus breaks one of his commands and involves himself in a duel between a Latin soldier. Titus wins the match, and tells his father, who is the Counsul about it. When his father hears about this and realizes that he disobeyed his command, orders him to be put to death, so that the rules Titus broke may be put in place again.
This to me show the strict rules that Rome had and that obedience is a must. Livy is showing here two sides in which we can understand from. One, that the father did what he did for the sake of Rome and its rules, maybe also to show what a leader must be? And two, that what leaders have to do are morally wrong, even if they think their doing it for the greater cause. A sign of the last point come from the end, when Livy says that all the young man regarded Lucius with hatred for the rest of their lives. In the end, it seems like evil triumphs, an interesting ending and I wonder way he ended it that way...
"As for Titus Manlius the father, when he came back in triumph to Rome (for the Romans were victorious in the war, as will be told hereafter) the elders only went forth to meet him; the young men, both then and ever afterward, so long as he lived, turned from him with hatred and curses."
This is more like a report than a point lol.
