Description"Sometimes even to live is an act of courage." Seneca composed the Consolations while in exile on Corsica during 40-44 AD and used each opportunity to show off in writing his trendy Stoic ideas about life and the universe.
She knew many other mothers who had lost their sons; why should she expect her own son to survive her? The acknowledgement, even expectation, of the worst o.
Seneca attempts to convince her that that the fate of her son, while tragic, should not have been a surprise.
Marcia actively mourned the death of her son Metilius for over three years.
There are more philosophical abstractions concerning Stoic precepts of life and death in De Consolatione ad Marciam.
The essay focuses on the inescapable reality of death.
He reaches out to Polybius, the Emperor\'s secretary, to console him on the death of his brother.
De Consolatione ad Polybium is the definitive representation of the part of Seneca\'s life he spent in exile.
And indeed, now they are the best, since my spirit, devoid of all other preoccupations, has room for its own activities, and either delights in easier studies or rises up eager for the truth, to the consideration of its own nature as well as that of the universe...
This quote from De Consolatione ad Helviam, shows Seneca\'s presentation of his life as tolerable, and even spiritually enjoyable: I am joyous and cheerful, as if under the best of circumstances.
His seemingly positive outlook on his own exile follows the Stoic principle that one should not be upset by uncontrollable events.
In each work Seneca employs many of the rhetorical devices common to the consolatio tradition while incorporating his unique philosophy.
His three letters of condolences De Consolatione ad Marciam, De Consolatione ad Polybium and De Consolatione ad Helviam caused a sensation in Rome when they were circulated and before long the disgraced aristocrat was recalled from banishment and given the plum appointment of tutor to the young future emperor Nero.
Description"Sometimes even to live is an act of courage." Seneca composed the Consolations while in exile on Corsica during 40-44 AD and used each opportunity to show off in writing his trendy Stoic ideas about life and the universe
