Cicero's post reditum speeches: three studies

Abstract

This thesis is divided into three subject areas. The first section examines Cicero’s employment of the terms "amicitia" and "inimicitia". It takes the form of a prosopographical study of all those named. The Republic came before all ties of "amicitia" and "inimicitia". Cicero saw his cause as one and the same as that of the Republic. The second section is divided into four sub-sections. The first deals with Cicero’s references to the Consulship. Consuls must possess certain essential qualities and abide by a code of practice. The second sub-section contains an analysis of Cicero’s references to the Tribunate. The Tribunates of Clodius, Milo and Sestius are assessed in detail Cloduis' legislation may be defended. Cicero's attitude towards "vis" is ambivalent. Cicero's references to violence are fax more Sequent in the Senatorial speech. The third sub-section looks at Cicero's treatment of public meetings and assemblies. Cicero's descriptions of the meetings held in 58 B.C. are compared with those of 57 B.C. They are contrasted with Cicero's ideal Cicero is keen to draw attention to the consensus that recalled him. Finally, all Cicero’s allusions to the Senate are analysed. Cicero exaggerates the extent to which the Senate lost its authority in 58 B.C. Cicero boasts of the consensus in favour of his recall Cicero extols the comitia centuriata. The final section analyses Cicero's references to place. This section is divided into three themes. The first theme is "the city lost, the city restored". Cicero employs the connotations of specific places in the city to enhance this central theme. The second theme examines Cicero's comparison between city and country. The country receives great praise. The last theme looks at allusions to the Empire. This reveals the Roman curiosity in foreign lands and prejudice against foreign people.