Seneca the Younger
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| + | "[[There is no great genius without some touch of madness]]" --Seneca, ''[[De Tranquillitate Animi]]'' | ||
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| + | '''Lucius Annaeus Seneca''' (often known simply as '''Seneca''', or '''Seneca the Younger''') (c. [[4 BC]] – [[AD 65]]) was a [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] [[Stoicism|Stoic]] [[philosopher]], [[statesman]], [[dramatist]], and in one work [[humorist]], of the [[Silver Age of Latin literature]]. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor [[Nero]]. | ||
| + | ==Works== | ||
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| + | Works attributed to Seneca include a dozen philosophical essays, one hundred and twenty-four [[Epistulae morales ad Lucilium|letters]] dealing with [[moral]] issues, nine [[tragedy|tragedies]], a [[satire]], anden argued as having been written by another. His authorship of ''Hercules on Oeta'' has also been questioned. | ||
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| + | Seneca generally employed a pointed rhetorical style. His writings expose traditional themes of [[Stoic philosophy]]: the universe is governed for the best by a rational providence; contentment is achieved through a simple, unperturbed life in accordance with nature and duty to the state; human suffering should be accepted and has a beneficial effect on the soul; study and learning are important. He emphasized practical steps by which the reader might confront life's problems. In particular, he considered it important to confront one's own mortality. The discussion of how to approach death dominates many of his letters. | ||
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| + | === Seneca's tragedies === | ||
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| + | Many scholars have thought, following the ideas of the 19th century German scholar [[Friedrich Leo]], that Seneca's tragedies were written for recitation only. Other scholars think that they were written for performance and that it is possible that actual performance had taken place in Seneca's lifetime. Ultimately, this issue cannot be resolved on the basis of our existing knowledge. | ||
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| + | The tragedies of Seneca have been successfully staged in modern times. The dating of the tragedies is highly problematic in the absence of any ancient references. A relative chronology has been suggested on metrical grounds but scholars remain divided. It is inconceivable that they were written in the same year. They are not all based on Greek tragedies, they have a five act form and differ in many respects from extant Attic drama, and whilst the influence of [[Euripides]] on some of these works is considerable, so is the influence of [[Virgil]] and [[Ovid]]. | ||
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| + | Seneca's plays were widely read in [[medieval]] and [[Renaissance]] [[Europe]]an [[university|universities]] and strongly influenced [[tragedy|tragic drama]] in that time, such as [[Elizabethan England]] ([[Shakespeare]] and other playwrights), France ([[Pierre Corneille|Corneille]] and [[Jean Racine|Racine]]), and the Netherlands (Joost van den [[Vondel]]). He is regarded as the source and inspiration for what is known as 'Revenge Tragedy', starting with [[Thomas Kyd]]'s '[[The Spanish Tragedy]]' and continuing well into the Jacobean Period. | ||
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| + | Tragedies: | ||
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| + | * ''[[Hercules Furens]]'' (''The Madness of Hercules'') | ||
| + | * ''Troades'' (''The Trojan Women'') | ||
| + | * ''Phoenissae'' (''The Phoenician Women'') | ||
| + | * ''[[Phaedra (Seneca)|Phaedra]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Thyestes]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Hercules Oetaeus]]'' (''Hercules on Oeta''): there is doubt by some scholars whether this tragedy was written by Seneca. | ||
| + | * ''Agamemnon'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Oedipus (Seneca)|Oedipus]]'' | ||
| + | * ''Medea'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Octavia (play, by Seneca)|Octavia]]'': closely resemble Seneca's plays in style, but is written by someone with a keen knowledge of Seneca's plays and philosophical works, a short time after Seneca's death, perhaps in the 70s of the 1st century AD. | ||
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| + | ===Essays and Letters=== | ||
| + | * (40) ''[[Ad Marciam, De consolatione]]'' (''To Marcia, On consolation'') – Consoles her on the death of her son | ||
| + | * (64) ''[[Epistulae morales ad Lucilium]]'' – collection of 124 letters dealing with moral issues written to [[Lucilius Junior]]. | ||
| + | * (41) ''[[De Ira]]'' (''On anger'') – A study on the consequences and the control of anger | ||
| + | * (42) ''[[Seneca's Consolations|Ad Helviam matrem, De consolatione]]'' (''To Helvia, On consolation'') – Letter to his mother consoling her on his absence during exile. | ||
| + | * (44) ''[[Seneca's Consolations|De Consolatione ad Polybium]]'' (''To Polybius, On consolation'') – Consoling him on his missing son | ||
| + | * (49) ''[[De Brevitate Vitae (Seneca)|De Brevitate Vitæ]]'' (''On the shortness of life'') – Essay expounding that any length of life is sufficient if lived wisely. | ||
| + | * (62) ''[[De Otio]]'' (''On leisure'') | ||
| + | * (63) ''[[De Tranquillitate Animi]]'' (''On tranquillity of mind'') | ||
| + | * (64) ''[[De Providentia]]'' (''On providence'') | ||
| + | * (55) ''[[De Constantia Sapientis]]'' (''On the Firmness of the Wise Person'') | ||
| + | * (58) ''[[De Vita Beata]]'' (''On the happy life'') | ||
| + | * (56) ''[[De Clementia]]'' (''On Clemency'') – written to [[Nero]] on the need for [[clemency]] as a [[virtue]] in an emperor. | ||
| + | * (63) ''[[De Beneficiis]]'' (''On Benefits'') [seven books] | ||
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| + | ===Other === | ||
| + | * (54) ''[[Apokolokyntosis|Apocolocyntosis divi Claudii]] (''The Pumpkinification of the Divine Claudius''), a satirical work. | ||
| + | * (63) ''[[Naturales quaestiones]]'' [seven books] of no great originality but offering an insight into ancient theories of [[cosmology]], [[meteorology]], and similar subjects. | ||
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| + | ===Spurious=== | ||
| + | * (58–62/370?) ''[[Epistle to Seneca the Younger|Cujus etiam ad Paulum apostolum leguntur epistolae]]:'' These letters, allegedly between Seneca and St. Paul, were revered by early authorities, but most scholars now doubt their authenticity. | ||
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"There is no great genius without some touch of madness" --Seneca, De Tranquillitate Animi |
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Lucius Annaeus Seneca (often known simply as Seneca, or Seneca the Younger) (c. 4 BC – AD 65) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and in one work humorist, of the Silver Age of Latin literature. He was tutor and later advisor to emperor Nero.
Contents |
Works
Works attributed to Seneca include a dozen philosophical essays, one hundred and twenty-four letters dealing with moral issues, nine tragedies, a satire, anden argued as having been written by another. His authorship of Hercules on Oeta has also been questioned.
Seneca generally employed a pointed rhetorical style. His writings expose traditional themes of Stoic philosophy: the universe is governed for the best by a rational providence; contentment is achieved through a simple, unperturbed life in accordance with nature and duty to the state; human suffering should be accepted and has a beneficial effect on the soul; study and learning are important. He emphasized practical steps by which the reader might confront life's problems. In particular, he considered it important to confront one's own mortality. The discussion of how to approach death dominates many of his letters.
Seneca's tragedies
Many scholars have thought, following the ideas of the 19th century German scholar Friedrich Leo, that Seneca's tragedies were written for recitation only. Other scholars think that they were written for performance and that it is possible that actual performance had taken place in Seneca's lifetime. Ultimately, this issue cannot be resolved on the basis of our existing knowledge.
The tragedies of Seneca have been successfully staged in modern times. The dating of the tragedies is highly problematic in the absence of any ancient references. A relative chronology has been suggested on metrical grounds but scholars remain divided. It is inconceivable that they were written in the same year. They are not all based on Greek tragedies, they have a five act form and differ in many respects from extant Attic drama, and whilst the influence of Euripides on some of these works is considerable, so is the influence of Virgil and Ovid.
Seneca's plays were widely read in medieval and Renaissance European universities and strongly influenced tragic drama in that time, such as Elizabethan England (Shakespeare and other playwrights), France (Corneille and Racine), and the Netherlands (Joost van den Vondel). He is regarded as the source and inspiration for what is known as 'Revenge Tragedy', starting with Thomas Kyd's 'The Spanish Tragedy' and continuing well into the Jacobean Period.
Tragedies:
- Hercules Furens (The Madness of Hercules)
- Troades (The Trojan Women)
- Phoenissae (The Phoenician Women)
- Phaedra
- Thyestes
- Hercules Oetaeus (Hercules on Oeta): there is doubt by some scholars whether this tragedy was written by Seneca.
- Agamemnon
- Oedipus
- Medea
- Octavia: closely resemble Seneca's plays in style, but is written by someone with a keen knowledge of Seneca's plays and philosophical works, a short time after Seneca's death, perhaps in the 70s of the 1st century AD.
Essays and Letters
- (40) Ad Marciam, De consolatione (To Marcia, On consolation) – Consoles her on the death of her son
- (64) Epistulae morales ad Lucilium – collection of 124 letters dealing with moral issues written to Lucilius Junior.
- (41) De Ira (On anger) – A study on the consequences and the control of anger
- (42) Ad Helviam matrem, De consolatione (To Helvia, On consolation) – Letter to his mother consoling her on his absence during exile.
- (44) De Consolatione ad Polybium (To Polybius, On consolation) – Consoling him on his missing son
- (49) De Brevitate Vitæ (On the shortness of life) – Essay expounding that any length of life is sufficient if lived wisely.
- (62) De Otio (On leisure)
- (63) De Tranquillitate Animi (On tranquillity of mind)
- (64) De Providentia (On providence)
- (55) De Constantia Sapientis (On the Firmness of the Wise Person)
- (58) De Vita Beata (On the happy life)
- (56) De Clementia (On Clemency) – written to Nero on the need for clemency as a virtue in an emperor.
- (63) De Beneficiis (On Benefits) [seven books]
Other
- (54) Apocolocyntosis divi Claudii (The Pumpkinification of the Divine Claudius), a satirical work.
- (63) Naturales quaestiones [seven books] of no great originality but offering an insight into ancient theories of cosmology, meteorology, and similar subjects.
Spurious
- (58–62/370?) Cujus etiam ad Paulum apostolum leguntur epistolae: These letters, allegedly between Seneca and St. Paul, were revered by early authorities, but most scholars now doubt their authenticity.
