1
Cicero
A) Summary: Quintus Cicero is giving his brother Marcus advice on how to campaign to
become a politician.1 Quintus suggests that Marcus uses his in debt followers2 to get votes
and to befriend high ranking individuals. Marcus should be friendly to everyone. He’s
told there are three types of people to help gain followers3 leading to the victory he
deserves. 4 4.9
B) Close Reading of a passage: Quintus defines the term “friend” to Marcus by telling him
to become familiar with everyone, and that by doing that he can meet their friends.5
Quintus tells Marcus that if he befriends everyone from the high ranks to the common
man, then he will ensure enough votes to possibly win the election. This friendliness
towards many will allow Marcus to have the reputation of a good man. The nature of the
Roman friendship is to be by ones6 side through thick and thin. Quintus stated, “embrace
the Roman senator,” which he told Marcus to do so that the Senators could possibly
influence their follower7 to vote for him (Cicero 34). Another aspect in Quintus’s advice
to Marcus is he tells him to join in the conversations of the business men in the forum as
well as the popular freedmen. Becoming friends with them will put them under the
obligation that Marcus will serve all of their needs.8 5
1
Well, he is already a politician – he’s talking about gaining office.
2
I know what you mean, but here it sounds as if they owe him money.
3
Awkward. What do you mean here?
4
This goes a bit over the word count – but overall you do a pretty good job.
5
This is not the definition, but the advice around it.
6
Rhetoric error: one’s. (possessive)
7
Awkward: followers.
8
Pretty good discussion – but where’s your thesis statement? The last sentence could work if
you expand the idea of obligation a bit – it’s a nice idea about what the basis of friendship is,
but you need to have the statement at the beginning of the paragraph, and then use the rest of
the points to support it. You do a good job identifying the main things Quintus says about
friendship, but you need to organize them in an argument.
2
C) Close reading of a text: When Cicero defines what a good citizen is he excludes the
criminals, perverts in nature, those who are insane, and people who are in financial
difficulty (Pro Sestio 97). According to Cicero, “there is no end to this class- if there
were, Rome would fall apart.” What Cicero means by a fine citizen is that they consist of
the highest rankings in Rome.9 He also states that a fine citizen follows the social
normality’s;10 we can then infer that individuals who don’t can be referred to as corrupt.
This includes people who believe in individuality.11 An individual with personal motives
rather than persuasion from the influences of society does not guide the Republic and
cannot be classified as worthy.12 6.3
D) Linking primary and secondary texts: One of the most crucial events that led to the
destruction of the Republic was the Civil War13 between the populares14 and the
optimates factions. The populares supported the people an15d the optimates supported
“the best” (Hunt 158).16 These two groups were formed on the sole basis17 of the
controversy over the reforms of Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. The brothers wanted to
give the poor land to help them out, however, other people felt differently. In 133 BCE,
9
Evidence?
10
Rhetoric error: delete apostrophe s.
11
Evidence? I am not sure which bit of the text you interpreted this way.
12
You do a nice job of identifying the main points regarding a “fine citizen” in the text, though I
wish you’d present more of the evidence. But you don’t unify these under an argument (a
thesis statement); rather, you provide an unconnected list. This is a serious problem for an
essay.
13
You should not use capitals here – it’s not a title, but rather simply an instance. Plus, I’m not
sure to what extent you can call that conflict a civil war, without at least some poetic licence.
14
Put foreign words in italics, always.
15
Nice thesis statement: it’s clear and to the point.
16
Optimates means “the best” – they definitely liked to believe they did support the best, but in
this case it refers to the upper strata of society.
17
Careful of overstating. Both the groups and the Gracchus reforms were part of a larger issue
in society.
3
Tiberius took matters in his own hands and went around the Senate to pass a reform. As a
result of this, he was later clubbed to death. Although this was not yet the Civil War, this
event initiated it.18 Just like in Cicero’s “Letter to...,”19 even though Tiberius had won the
election this did not mean his was friendly to everyone.20 This could lead a reader into
believing that Cicero saw this first hand and wanted to warn his brother.21 22Throughout
the Civil War, Senators were often the biggest influence on if the current ruler was a
great fit for the country or not.23 When Julius Caesar came to power, he gained his
supporters by being very aggressive throughout the war. He conquered Gaul and gave
plunder to his troops. Caesar also manipulated people like Cleopatra to gain an immense
amount power. For Caesar, all good things would come to an end.24 After he had defeated
his enemies and claimed much power for Rome, the optimates would soon disagree.25
Caesar was then assassinated by Senators including his best friend Brutus (Hunt 56-67).
These events can go against what Cicero said in “In Defense…,” about how fine citizens
were often high officials because the Senators participated in treason against the dictator
(In Defense of Sestius 4).26
18
Ok, I see where you are going with this…
19
No, Tiberius appears in Pro Sestio.
20
I am not sure which bit you’re referring to exactly .
21
What do you mean? This is unclear.
22
What follows does not continue this same idea – start new paragraph.
23
Very awkward.
24
What does this summary of Caesar’s early career prove? How does it drive your argument
forward?
25
Awkward.
26
I think I see what you mean – but wouldn’t Cicero argue that those who killed Caesar were
fine citizens indeed? You have a clear thesis statement, and you use evidence from both Cicero
and the textbook. However, your argument gets a bit meandering, and you forget to connect it
back to your thesis.
4
“On my honor, I have neither given nor received any aid on this work, nor am I aware of
any breach of the Honor Code that I shall not immediately report. I have not used online
summaries, note or other unauthorized aid for this paper.” – Cole Felopulos Cipriani
