Intertextuality and Body-Mind Duality
No matter how modern society might insist upon the ideas of copyright and intellectual property, no person’s work is truly his or her own. Texts ancient and new, contemporary or separated by centuries, invariably influence and build upon each other. In Ab Urbe Condita, Livy’s depiction of the Carthaginian leader Hannibal interacts with the depiction of the Roman conspirator Catiline featured in Bellum Catilinae, a work by the historian Sallust, a predecessor of Livy. The intertextual dialogue that occurs between Sallust’s description of Catiline and Livy’s description of Hannibal reveals the recurring theme of the relationship between the body and the mind. Comparative reading of the two texts serves to …show more content…
Rather, both men also share a propensity for adaptation and psychological manipulation. Sallust describes Catiline as “capable of any concealment or disguise” and therefore able to beguile others into trusting him and obeying his conspiratorial plans (cuius rei lubet simulator ac dissimulator, Cat. 5.4). According to Livy, Hannibal possesses a comparable versatility when taking on disparate roles. Livy asserts, “never was the same mental talent more adaptable to the most diverse matters, obeying and commanding” than that of Hannibal (Nunquam ingenium idem ad res diversissimas, parendum atque imperandum, habilius fuit, 21.4.3). Because of his changeable character, Hannibal is able to win over both the army and the commander, …show more content…
Livy’s Hannibal presents a significant innovation on Sallust’s Catiline. Though Catiline is a talented public speaker, able to manipulate and influence those around him, he possesses “little of wisdom” (sapientiae parum, Cat. 5.4). Hannibal, on the other hand, possesses both the power of manipulation and the power of intellect. Livy’s text displays Hannibal’s insight when it mentions that not only is Hannibal “the most daring in undertaking dangers,” but he also takes on “the most planning within the dangers, themselves” (Plurimum audaciae ad pericula capessenda, plurimum consilii inter ipsa pericula erat, 21.4.5). This comparison between the intellectual capabilities of Catiline and Hannibal further develops the authors’ concepts of the relationship between mental and physical strength. Though both men are seemingly equal in terms of their extreme bodily endurance, they differ in their capacities for sound judgment. Whereas Catiline’s lack of wisdom is what leads to his downfall and the failure of his conspiracy, Hannibal’s intellectual prowess solidifies his status as a successful military persona, loved by both his soldiers and his commanders. Thus, both Sallust and Livy convey the necessity of mental strength, not just its physical counterpart, to the character of an effective
No matter how modern society might insist upon the ideas of copyright and intellectual property, no person’s work is truly his or her own. Texts ancient and new, contemporary or separated by centuries, invariably influence and build upon each other. In Ab Urbe Condita, Livy’s depiction of the Carthaginian leader Hannibal interacts with the depiction of the Roman conspirator Catiline featured in Bellum Catilinae, a work by the historian Sallust, a predecessor of Livy. The intertextual dialogue that occurs between Sallust’s description of Catiline and Livy’s description of Hannibal reveals the recurring theme of the relationship between the body and the mind. Comparative reading of the two texts serves to …show more content…
Rather, both men also share a propensity for adaptation and psychological manipulation. Sallust describes Catiline as “capable of any concealment or disguise” and therefore able to beguile others into trusting him and obeying his conspiratorial plans (cuius rei lubet simulator ac dissimulator, Cat. 5.4). According to Livy, Hannibal possesses a comparable versatility when taking on disparate roles. Livy asserts, “never was the same mental talent more adaptable to the most diverse matters, obeying and commanding” than that of Hannibal (Nunquam ingenium idem ad res diversissimas, parendum atque imperandum, habilius fuit, 21.4.3). Because of his changeable character, Hannibal is able to win over both the army and the commander, …show more content…
Livy’s Hannibal presents a significant innovation on Sallust’s Catiline. Though Catiline is a talented public speaker, able to manipulate and influence those around him, he possesses “little of wisdom” (sapientiae parum, Cat. 5.4). Hannibal, on the other hand, possesses both the power of manipulation and the power of intellect. Livy’s text displays Hannibal’s insight when it mentions that not only is Hannibal “the most daring in undertaking dangers,” but he also takes on “the most planning within the dangers, themselves” (Plurimum audaciae ad pericula capessenda, plurimum consilii inter ipsa pericula erat, 21.4.5). This comparison between the intellectual capabilities of Catiline and Hannibal further develops the authors’ concepts of the relationship between mental and physical strength. Though both men are seemingly equal in terms of their extreme bodily endurance, they differ in their capacities for sound judgment. Whereas Catiline’s lack of wisdom is what leads to his downfall and the failure of his conspiracy, Hannibal’s intellectual prowess solidifies his status as a successful military persona, loved by both his soldiers and his commanders. Thus, both Sallust and Livy convey the necessity of mental strength, not just its physical counterpart, to the character of an effective