Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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Seneca: His Character <strong>and</strong> Environment<br />
resorted to self-destruction ns a release from misfor<br />
tune strikes us with surprise. Suicide is <strong>of</strong>ten men<br />
tioned in the writings <strong>of</strong> Seneca, <strong>and</strong> always with ap<br />
proval. It is not hard to underst<strong>and</strong> this attitude <strong>of</strong><br />
mind if we recollect the relation the Roman regarded<br />
as existing between himself <strong>and</strong> the state. The gov<br />
ernment was in a sense a part <strong>of</strong> himself, <strong>and</strong> an<br />
essential part. To the Greek there was still some<br />
thing worth living for after the loss <strong>of</strong> country <strong>and</strong><br />
citizenship. He could devote himself to literature 1 , or<br />
philosophy, or to some more ignoble means <strong>of</strong> gain<br />
ing a livelihood. To the Roman such a thing was<br />
well-nigh impossible, especially if lie was a member<br />
<strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the ruling families. Exile, exclusion from<br />
service in the state, was to him the end <strong>of</strong> every thing.<br />
Many Romans <strong>of</strong> whom one would have expected<br />
better things are inconsolable so long as they are<br />
compelled to live away from the capital<br />
many<br />
with no cer<br />
tain prospect <strong>of</strong> return. Need we wonder that to<br />
others life was no longer worth living, <strong>and</strong> that<br />
they freely put<br />
an end to it with their own h<strong>and</strong>.<br />
Often the best men sought surcease <strong>of</strong><br />
unnatural way.<br />
sorrow in this<br />
Those in whom the moral sense was<br />
weak, plunged recklessly into debauchery <strong>and</strong> sensual<br />
gratification. Literature, too. was corrupted to minis<br />
ter to their corrupt tastes. We know little <strong>of</strong> the life<br />
<strong>of</strong> the average Roman citizen; but there is sufficient<br />
evidence within reach <strong>of</strong> the modern reader to prove<br />
that the ruling class had few redeeming traits. The<br />
downward tendency is plainly discernible in the last<br />
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