Livy - Welcome to Rome: Stubborn and Immature, but Still Better Than You Sophia Colbert
Livy is one of those people who wants to bring things back to the "good old days" or the "golden age" before certain people ruined everything. He wants his readers to be so proud of what Rome used to be that they would gladly go back to the old way of doing things. He wants his readers to know how Rome fell from its glorious stage so that it didn't happen again. But even from reading this passage, I do not see how Romans are the pinnacle of society. What I saw from the reading was an example of standard human nature. As Livy is describing the situation of allowing plebeians to be elected, the ending caught me by surprise. In most stories, when the commoners fight for a right and win, they usually act on the right they just won. Livy's story is more realistic. The plebeians fight hard for allowance to run in election for consulship, however, when they do win that right, they elect patricians anyway. Humans are so stubborn! All the plebeians wanted was a chance to be consuls, not necessarily the consulship itself. It's kind of like when someone invites your friend to a movie that you really didn't want to see, or a party that you really didn't want to go to, but you get offended because you weren't invited too. All you wanted was an invitation that you could decline, but you weren't even given that much. The plebeians were upset because they could not run for consulship, even though they would just elect patricians anyway. Livy called this a good example of the moderation, fairness, and loftiness of mind that the people had at that time. I just see people being people.
P.S. I commented on Kayla and Eliza's posts.
P.S. I commented on Kayla and Eliza's posts.
I agree! It is always interesting that even today in modern times we can still relate to people's feelings all the way back in ancient Rome. However, while it is true what you said about the fact that they would elect a patrician anyways, it is important to at least be given the opportunity and have fair treatment in law. (Even if it is not in societal culture yet. )
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ReplyDeleteAll about the principle… They want to be seen as equals with the patricians even if they don’t want to have to make a major change in their lives and go from humble commoner to stressed governor. We see from the excerpt just how subhumanely the patricians sometimes treated the plebeians. If the rights to hold office are what it takes to be viewed as an equal human being, you can bet that the masses will lobby for it regardless of whether they want it—if not out of concern for their fellow pleb, at least for the sake of their egos.
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