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Slaves

Slaves. By Seneca. What is Seneca trying to do?. Seneca is challenging his readers to consider slaves in a humanistic and compassionate way. What is “Slaves” about?. Seneca’s central argument is that a person should treat his slaves well.

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Slaves

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  1. Slaves BySeneca

  2. What is Seneca trying to do? • Seneca is challenging his readers to consider slaves in a humanistic and compassionate way.

  3. What is “Slaves” about? • Seneca’s central argument is that a person should treat his slaves well. • Despite the popular notion of the time that slaves were considered sub-human, Seneca argues that slaves have a right to be treated humanely and with compassion. • (BTW – During this period of time, Rome had more slaves than citizens!)

  4. How does he inspire humanism and compassion? • Seneca uses metaphor, antithesis, and witty turns of phrase. • His style is characterized by brevity and clarity. • His prose is quick, pungent, ironic, self-questioning, and reflective of mental process.

  5. Seneca’s Metaphors • He challenges his audience to realize that, “the man you call slave sprang from the same seed, enjoys the same daylight, breathes like you, lives like you, dies like you.” • He says, “A man is a fool if he looks only at the saddle and bridle and not at the horse itself when he is going to buy one…”

  6. The use of antithesis • “They are slaves” – no men; “They are slaves” – no comrades… • Contrary to popular belief, Seneca says to, “treat your inferior as you would wish your superior to treat you.” • “Treat your slave with compassion, even with courtesy; admit him to your conversation, your planning, your society.”

  7. Witty turns of phrase • Seneca says, “The master eats more than he can hold; his inordinate greed loads his distended belly…all this food requires more ado than its ingestion.” • He says slaves, “were ready to put their necks out for their master, to turn any danger that threatened him upon their own heads; they spoke at dinners, but under torture their lips were sealed.”

  8. Examples of brevity and clarity • “A lash is to admonish dumb beasts.” • “What offends need not wound.” • “I do not wish to detain you longer; you need no exhortation.”

  9. Seneca’s appeal • Seneca’s essay appeals to readers through pathos. (It is an appeal to the heart, a plea for man to do what is right.)

  10. Is the essay effective in achieving its objectives? • Seneca reaches his audience by making individuals consider their own station in life. • He says, “Show me a man who is not…a slave to lust, another to greed, another to ambition, all to fear.”

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