Juvenal Reading Entry

How is the concept of wealth developed in Juvenal’s satires? How is this different or similar to that of Twain’s development of the same subject in Innocents Abroad?

Juvenal describes the concept of wealth as something that lends to hypocrisy, immorality, and crime. He writes of the uncivilized nature of rich people, their frivolity, and their complete disregard for those who suffer as a result of their indulgences. Twain, however, talks much more about the effects that wealth has on relationships between people and institutions, which you see a little bit in Juvenal’s piece. Whereas Juvenal is much more blatant about his anger at the rich, Twain satirizes the dichotomy between the wealth and power of the church and its followers, patrons and their artists, and the like. For instance, he writes of how the Medici practically let their artists, like Michelangelo, starve. Juvenal also writes of a similar theme—for instance, the dinner party with patrons and artists in which the artists are served different food and different bread as they wait foolishly for the praise that they desire and deserve.

What role does hypocrisy play in relation these concepts of wealth in both authors’ satirical works?

Juvenal writes about the hypocrisy in the dichotomy between how “civilized” rich people believe themselves to be and how they actually act. For instance, even though patrons believe themselves to be more civilized, they throw parties, are ruthless, act like children, and practically starve their clients. The clients are also hypocrites, as they foolishly hope to be treated well and practically grovel at the feet of their patrons rather than preserve their pride and honor. Twain, however, targets the Church’s hypocrisy instead, writing of their extravagant and wasteful tendencies while they let the people starve. There seems to also be something inherently hypocritical in the church’s decision to be extravagant when it preaches piety and humbleness to its followers. As mentioned before, Twain also speaks of the hypocritical nature of the relationship between patron and artist, in which the patron lets the artist starve and live an exceedingly poor life while the patron reaps all the benefits of his or her labor.

How are the themes of sedition and free speech in Juvenal similar/different to those in Twain’s satire?

In Twain’s piece, he pokes fun at the fact that Italians lack free speech. In other words, they have no control over their own government and do not seem to wish to take up the reigns and govern themselves. Juvenal seems to make fun of the fact that when most people speak out, they have nothing of real importance to say, and if they do, they will be “torched.” He seems to think that free speech is a good thing as long as you have something worthwhile to say.

How are artists, poets, and patrons of the arts depicted similarly/differently by the two authors?

Both writers depict patrons and the arts in very similar ways. Twain and Juvenal seem to agree that the relationship between the patron and the artist is one of the powerful taking advantage of those who are not. Both writers satirize the extravagant lifestyles that patrons take on while they let their artists or clients starve and grovel at their feet. However, Twain seems to be a little more forgiving of the artists, whereas Juvenal takes on a much more ruthless point of view by satirizing they way that artists have lost their honor. For him, the artists are letting the patrons take advantage of them, which causes Juvenal to lose respect for the arts.

What is “noble” according to Juvenal’s narrator?

Juvenal’s narrator believes that nobility is much more than a name and a title. He believes that a noble person will not be selfish or greedy, will respect the law, will love their family, will respect the Senate, fight for what they believe in, respect God and respect freedom.

Cite a passage from each of the four satires by Juvenal which amused you and say why. What literary mechanisms or rhetorical devices did Juvenal use for each of these?

“You will get yours pretty soon, when you go and undress in your bathroom, trying to ease your gut’s distending burden of peacock.” (p 22)
hyperbole

“You get a rotten old apple, the kind that is given a monkey all rigged out with a helmet and shield, and afraid of whipping while he is being trained to toss the spear from a goat’s back.” (p 61)
parody, mock heroics

“If a man’s going to law, the first thing he has to consider is, do you have eight slaves, a littler, companions in togas walking ahead as you go?” (p 96)
hyperbole, parody

“Possibly you despise unwarlike Rhodes, perfumed Corinth. You are perfectly right, of course; what harm can be done you by young men who shave not only their shins but their armpits?” (p 105)
Sarcasm, parody