Cicero pro caelio clodia

In defending caelius who was probably guilty as hell on all accounts, cicero here makes. Ciceros reasons for defending caelius are uncertain though various theories have been postulated. He was the son of bestia, whom caelius twice attempted to. Pro caelio takes a very high, if not, as some scholars have held, the highest place, as an expression of his gifts of eloquence, audacity and brilliance. Dorey in his description of ciceros eloquence quintilian says that he had the power of carrying a jury with him against its better judgement without the jurys realizing what was happening.

Metellus celer, clodia is famously portrayed in ciceros speech of 56 b. In defending caelius who was probably guilty as hell on all accounts, cicero here makes his argument ad feminam insulting the heck out of the plaintiff, clodia, and basically outing her. In this transition, after saying that later he will defend caelius against any strictures from the austere appius claudius, cicero turns to clodia and demands that she shall explain her intimacy with caelius. Cicero casts clodia as a scorned woman during the pro caelio trial. Caelius took the lead in his own defence, supported by his mentors marcus licinius crassus and marcus tullius cicero. Cicero, clodia, and the pro caelio volume 5 issue 2 t. Cicero had a personal interest in the case, as clodias brother clodius was ciceros most bitter political enemy. Four facets of diminishment in ciceros pro caelio valposcholar. In his description of ciceros eloquence quintilian says that he had the power of carrying a jury.

Caelius defense advocate was cicero, who took a harsh approach against her, recorded in his speech pro caelio. His capacity for arousing anger may be seen in the opening sentences of the first speech against catiline and, for arousing pity, in the last page of pro milone. Pro caelio is a speech given on april 4, 56 bc, by the famed roman orator marcus tullius cicero in defence of marcus caelius rufus, who had once been ciceros student but more recently was a political rival. This magical power of ciceros is exercised not only on roman jurors, but also on most modern. Ciceros case was won by his superb tactics and oratory in sections 3338. Invaluable as a social document, the speech also shows cicero steering a course through dangerous waters with unerring skill. Our pro caelio purports to be the speech delivered by cicero to conclude the defence. Cicero pro caelio 31 in latin, with adjustable running. In section 35 we have a transition to cicero s second speech in character. Dorey in his description of cicero s eloquence quintilian says that he had the power of carrying a jury with him against its better judgement.

Cicero basically tells us that anyone who falls for her charms or becomes entangled with her cant be blamed for anything, because what else do you expect from a woman who consciously refuses to act like a virtuous wife. Cicero accused clodia of being a seducer and a drunkard in rome and in baiae. Most importantly though, clodia is a ruiner of mens lives. Clodia, the source of both charges, is the real foe, but, so far as i can, i will spare her. At the conclusion to ciceros defence of marcus caelius, the reputation of clodia is sealed.