catiline exercise three
As you listen to this recording of Cicero's First Catilinarian, read aloud by the University of Findlay's MA student Robert Beebe (7/5/16), identify (1) what Cicero is trying to persuade his audience to do and (2) three things the he does to make his speech convincing. For example, what arguments does he make, what emotions does he try to elicit, and what kind of character does he present himself to be?
When you listen to the speech a second time, focus on Cicero's character as a leader. What leadership traits would he like you to believe he has? What does he do to convince you of this? For example, does he make a declaration of his values? What does he say about his own devotion to the Roman republic? What does he say about his own background? How would you characterize the emotional state he is in?
Do you yourself find Cicero's speech persuasive? Explain your answer.
Now read Lauren Raubaugh's "Lucius Sergius Catalina: Villain or Victim? The Famed Cicero as a Violent Aggressor" (2012) along with the text of Cicero's speech. What evidence is there that Raubaugh’s argument may be true? Does Cicero show aggressive tendencies in his speech? Are his strategies ethical as a leader?