The author of "First Oration Against Catiline" is Marcus Tullius Cicero, and his entire speech is directed at Lucius Sergius Catilina (known in the piece simply as Catiline). Cicero's orations are a response to Catiline's conspiracy to overthrow Rome, and Cicero is in strong disagreement with this plan. Thus, Cicero's motivation in delivering the oration is the drive to thwart Catiline's plot and prevent future conspiracies in this vein.
Cicero's main point in the "First Oration Against Catiline" is that Catiline has committed far too many crimes against the country and must receive a proper punishment: exile. Cicero reports that Catiline has now attacked the whole state openly and called for its destruction, so he must be punished, but he …show more content…
Cicero supports this thesis by claiming that the reason some feel miserable in their twilight is not their age and that which it brings forth, but their own character, and supports this claim by saying that a man who is perverse and unkind will be unhappy his whole life (including late life), but a kind and gracious man will endure regardless of age (Cicero 246). Cicero also refutes the belief that youth is superior to old age (because only they have hope for many years yet to live) by stating that the opposite is true, as the young merely hope for a long life while the old have already lived it, and supports this claim by stating that he lost his own son in youth while he himself has grown old and lived much longer (Cicero 251). Finally, Cicero argues that old age is a good part of life because the old expect and accept rather than fear death, expecting minimal to no pain and bearing already the blessings of their whole lives, making death a braver and wiser part of life that youth would do well to learn from (Cicero 252-254). Through these points, Cicero corrects the fear of old age and makes clear the virtues that the aging have to look forward to. The significance of this piece is that it transforms the prospect of becoming a weak and dying man into one who is brave, wise, and well
Cicero's main point in the "First Oration Against Catiline" is that Catiline has committed far too many crimes against the country and must receive a proper punishment: exile. Cicero reports that Catiline has now attacked the whole state openly and called for its destruction, so he must be punished, but he …show more content…
Cicero supports this thesis by claiming that the reason some feel miserable in their twilight is not their age and that which it brings forth, but their own character, and supports this claim by saying that a man who is perverse and unkind will be unhappy his whole life (including late life), but a kind and gracious man will endure regardless of age (Cicero 246). Cicero also refutes the belief that youth is superior to old age (because only they have hope for many years yet to live) by stating that the opposite is true, as the young merely hope for a long life while the old have already lived it, and supports this claim by stating that he lost his own son in youth while he himself has grown old and lived much longer (Cicero 251). Finally, Cicero argues that old age is a good part of life because the old expect and accept rather than fear death, expecting minimal to no pain and bearing already the blessings of their whole lives, making death a braver and wiser part of life that youth would do well to learn from (Cicero 252-254). Through these points, Cicero corrects the fear of old age and makes clear the virtues that the aging have to look forward to. The significance of this piece is that it transforms the prospect of becoming a weak and dying man into one who is brave, wise, and well