Françoise J Secq | Independent Scholar (original) (raw)

Papers by Françoise J Secq

For Sallust there was something inherently wrong with the fact the consulship was held on tight b... more For Sallust there was something inherently wrong with the fact the consulship was held on tight by nobles. As a new man himself he must have felt the injustice and unfairness at not being judged on one's personal merit and valour, but on the legacy of ancestors. The corruption, debauchery and greed of some senators placed the state into men's hands some of whom absolutely unfit to hold consulship, even if the plebs had some form of power, the consulship for instance remained the privilege of the patrician elite. For Sallust The Jugurthine War marks a turning point in Roman politics, the passage to a new ideology of leadership brought on by new men like Marius, when the old sense of virtus, which encompasses courage, prowess, personal ethics, is replaced by ingenium and ambitio. Sallust's real concern resides with the fact the nobility resisted a new man take power, what they regarded as inherently belonging to the ancestral traditions of their cast. Sallust's dilemma is not so much about the moral and ethical downfall of Roman politics as it is about the inherent decadent abuse of political power; In other words, the misappropriation of power by one social class in particular. Thus, for Sallust a 'new man' ought to restore a sense of order, justice and harmony, even though virtus, or the lack thereof, could be just as equally attributes of the nobiles or the plebs. Although Marius proves himself through valorous military deeds and prowess, it is from his quality of ingenuity that he owes his astuteness as a political tactician. Sallust wants us to see the pitfalls of his overwhelmingly ambitious personality that proved detrimental to the Roman Republic whilst at the same time he denounces the political corruption that precipitated its downfall.

Through Marius' speech Sallust explores issues of virtus, the aristocratic ideal and excellence, ... more Through Marius' speech Sallust explores issues of virtus, the aristocratic ideal and excellence, he argues that the mos maiorum's concept of virtus, based on tradition, prowess and deeds of illustrious ancestors, can be challenged effectively by a 'new man' (novus homo) such as Marius, and his great personal achievements.
Sallust uses Marius' speech to present 'Novitas', a new ideology of leadership, as a better alternative than the patrician-dominated senate, although its prime function is to secure Marius the enrolment of men for the war with Jugurtha. Marius oratory is a piece of political invective and propaganda aimed at undermining the credibility of the nobility, ultimately designed to impress on the plebs his political agenda and serve his consuming ambitio.
Sallust, who was himself a novus homo, wrote Marius' appeal to the assembly with persuasive rhetorical devices, Aristotle's forms of logos, pathos and ethos, the use of many figures of speech tropes and schemes. The narrative explains the orator's case with many supporting arguments, using repetitive language and sound to amplify meaning; delivered with gusto and effective intonation, the orator's aim was to convince and submit his audience, stir the plebs and push people into action.

For Sallust there was something inherently wrong with the fact the consulship was held on tight b... more For Sallust there was something inherently wrong with the fact the consulship was held on tight by nobles. As a new man himself he must have felt the injustice and unfairness at not being judged on one's personal merit and valour, but on the legacy of ancestors. The corruption, debauchery and greed of some senators placed the state into men's hands some of whom absolutely unfit to hold consulship, even if the plebs had some form of power, the consulship for instance remained the privilege of the patrician elite. For Sallust The Jugurthine War marks a turning point in Roman politics, the passage to a new ideology of leadership brought on by new men like Marius, when the old sense of virtus, which encompasses courage, prowess, personal ethics, is replaced by ingenium and ambitio. Sallust's real concern resides with the fact the nobility resisted a new man take power, what they regarded as inherently belonging to the ancestral traditions of their cast. Sallust's dilemma is not so much about the moral and ethical downfall of Roman politics as it is about the inherent decadent abuse of political power; In other words, the misappropriation of power by one social class in particular. Thus, for Sallust a 'new man' ought to restore a sense of order, justice and harmony, even though virtus, or the lack thereof, could be just as equally attributes of the nobiles or the plebs. Although Marius proves himself through valorous military deeds and prowess, it is from his quality of ingenuity that he owes his astuteness as a political tactician. Sallust wants us to see the pitfalls of his overwhelmingly ambitious personality that proved detrimental to the Roman Republic whilst at the same time he denounces the political corruption that precipitated its downfall.

Through Marius' speech Sallust explores issues of virtus, the aristocratic ideal and excellence, ... more Through Marius' speech Sallust explores issues of virtus, the aristocratic ideal and excellence, he argues that the mos maiorum's concept of virtus, based on tradition, prowess and deeds of illustrious ancestors, can be challenged effectively by a 'new man' (novus homo) such as Marius, and his great personal achievements.
Sallust uses Marius' speech to present 'Novitas', a new ideology of leadership, as a better alternative than the patrician-dominated senate, although its prime function is to secure Marius the enrolment of men for the war with Jugurtha. Marius oratory is a piece of political invective and propaganda aimed at undermining the credibility of the nobility, ultimately designed to impress on the plebs his political agenda and serve his consuming ambitio.
Sallust, who was himself a novus homo, wrote Marius' appeal to the assembly with persuasive rhetorical devices, Aristotle's forms of logos, pathos and ethos, the use of many figures of speech tropes and schemes. The narrative explains the orator's case with many supporting arguments, using repetitive language and sound to amplify meaning; delivered with gusto and effective intonation, the orator's aim was to convince and submit his audience, stir the plebs and push people into action.