Great Roman Minds Primary Source Paper.
Juvenal’s Satires are poems written by the Roman poet Juvenal. In it, Juvenal defends his use of satire, a form of writing that criticizes people and society through humor and exaggeration. He starts by explaining that satire is necessary because people are often blind to their own faults and need to be shaken awake. He argues that satire serves as a mirror, reflecting society's flaws and prompting self-reflection. Through satire, he believes he can highlight hypocrisy, injustice, and foolishness. Juvenal also addresses criticisms of satire, acknowledging that some may find it offensive or damaging. However, he contends that satire is a powerful tool for truth-telling and social commentary. He suggests …show more content…
For my primary source paper, I chose to read Juvenal’s Satires I-III. All of the poems in these three satires are different, but they carry the same message. In Satire I, Juvenal emphasizes how differently the wealthy elite and the common people of Rome are treated. The wealthy hold extravagant feasts, fattening themselves while the ordinary people starve. The wealthy elite commit crimes, but face no consequences due to bribery, while the common people are punished severely for minor crimes. The wealthy elite remain wealthy, not because of hard work, but because of money passed down from Mother and Father, while the common people work to barely survive. I loved when Juvenal brought up “cracked marble, and columns” because it made me think of how Rome may look strong and desirable from afar, but up close, there are many cracks. Juvenal does an amazing job at emphasizing how much more the wealthy elite value material wealth over good morals, integrity and honesty. He addresses that this lack of morals is the reason as to why Rome is in decline. In Satire II, he talks about his disdain for immoral people, condemning others' actions and morals. He points out how the wealthy elite judge others so harshly for their actions and morals,
Juvenal’s Satires are poems written by the Roman poet Juvenal. In it, Juvenal defends his use of satire, a form of writing that criticizes people and society through humor and exaggeration. He starts by explaining that satire is necessary because people are often blind to their own faults and need to be shaken awake. He argues that satire serves as a mirror, reflecting society's flaws and prompting self-reflection. Through satire, he believes he can highlight hypocrisy, injustice, and foolishness. Juvenal also addresses criticisms of satire, acknowledging that some may find it offensive or damaging. However, he contends that satire is a powerful tool for truth-telling and social commentary. He suggests …show more content…
For my primary source paper, I chose to read Juvenal’s Satires I-III. All of the poems in these three satires are different, but they carry the same message. In Satire I, Juvenal emphasizes how differently the wealthy elite and the common people of Rome are treated. The wealthy hold extravagant feasts, fattening themselves while the ordinary people starve. The wealthy elite commit crimes, but face no consequences due to bribery, while the common people are punished severely for minor crimes. The wealthy elite remain wealthy, not because of hard work, but because of money passed down from Mother and Father, while the common people work to barely survive. I loved when Juvenal brought up “cracked marble, and columns” because it made me think of how Rome may look strong and desirable from afar, but up close, there are many cracks. Juvenal does an amazing job at emphasizing how much more the wealthy elite value material wealth over good morals, integrity and honesty. He addresses that this lack of morals is the reason as to why Rome is in decline. In Satire II, he talks about his disdain for immoral people, condemning others' actions and morals. He points out how the wealthy elite judge others so harshly for their actions and morals,