“The Burning of Rome”

“The Burning of Rome” By Tacitus c. A.D. 55-117 Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Purpose of Rhetoric • To convince the reader that Nero was a bad and evil man • How does Tacitus do this? • Bias Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Tacitus’ Use of Bias • Established via the discussion of the people of Rome • “Some who had lost everything—even their food for the day—could have escaped, but preferred to die. So did others, who had failed to rescue their loved ones. Nobody dared fight the flames. Attempts to do so were prevented by menacing gangs. Torches, too, were openly thrown in, by men crying that they acted under orders. Perhaps they had received orders. Or they may just have wanted to plunder unhampered.” (538) Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Tacitus’ Use of Bias • Situations presented • Loss of hope by Romans • Hints that the fire was intentionally started, or at least intentionally spread Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • “Nero was at Antium. He only returned to the city when the fire was approaching the mansion he had built to link the Gardens of Maecenas to the Palatine.” (538) Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • Diction • “only” • Suggests Nero only returned to Rome when his property was threatened by the fire Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • “Nevertheless, for the relief of the homeless, fugitive masses he threw open the Field of Mars…” (538) • offers support for the victims Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • These actions from Nero resulted in no gratitude from the victims • “For a rumor had spread that, while the city was burning, Nero had gone on his private stage and, comparing modern calamities with ancient, had sung of the destruction of Troy.” (539) Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • Innuendo • Destruction of Rome=Destruction of Troy • Therefore, Nero=Aeneas • So Nero sees himself as a modern day Aeneas (the founder of a new Rome) Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • Pseudo-accusation • “For people believed that Nero was ambitious to found a new city to be called after himself.” (540) • States what the people of Rome believed, but in this context, via the presentation of events, the reader believes this accusation to be true. Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • “But Nero profited by his country’s ruin to build a new palace.” (540) • Nero reaps the rewards of the destruction of the city Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • Is this what a Roman is? • Remember the Aeneid • Dido chooses personal desire over the betterment of the country • Aeneas, the personification of true Roman, chooses the betterment of the country over personal desire Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • “With their cunning, impudent artificialities, Nero’s architects and engineers, Severus and Celer, did not balk at effects which Nature herself had ruled out as impossible.” (540) Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • Suggests Nero can be misled by his advisors • Demonstrates weakness • First of a series of impossible, unnatural things Nero plans to have happen in Rome • Demonstrates bad leadership Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • “But neither human resources, nor imperial munificence, nor appeasement of the gods, eliminated sinister suspicions that the fire had been instigated. To suppress this rumor, Nero fabricated scapegoats—and punished with every refinement the notoriously depraved Christians.” (541) Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • This strategy backfires on Nero • The people of Rome pity the Christians • Tacitus suggests that the people of Rome choose the Christians over Nero Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

Characterization of Nero • “As the year ended omens of impending misfortune were widely rumored” (541) • Reports on rumor • Suggests these negative omens occurred because of Nero’s actions Geschke/English IV "The Burning of Rome"

“The Burning of Rome”