Analysis Of Cicero's Against Catilina Orations

Cicero’s Against Catilina orations tells the reader way more about Cicero himself than what it’s like being a Roman consul during the Roman Republic. That’s not to say that Cicero’s orations don’t tell you anything about what it’s like being a Roman consul, because they do, it’s just that one gets way more insight into Cicero. Written works tell you more about the author than they could ever tell you about the subject. From this speech alone, one now knows about all about Cicero’s morals and values. He values reputation very highly. He also has a certain set of standards/morals that he holds himself and everyone else to. He doesn’t neglect those morals and he doesn’t expect others to either.

First off, the prosecution of Catilina is really

Based strictly off of these orations, one can tell that consuls held a substantial amount of power. They themselves weren’t at liberty to do much but, they could convince the senate or the assembly to agree with them and then grant them the power to do whatever they wanted. In order to do that, they had to be very persuasive, and often times, they were, at least Cicero was. Cicero frequently uses his persuasive skills within these speeches. He often attacks the ingrained Roman sense of loyalty to their country. EX “ Romans: your country, and the lives of every one of you, your property, your fortunes, your wives and children, this centre of your illustrious government, this most fortunate and beautiful of cities.” (Cicero 110)Cicero states that each of their most valuable things were in danger because of Cataline. Putting Rome, their lives and their money/property and the very top. Then he states that he was the one who “gave them back to you safe and sound.” (Cicero 110). Using this type of persuasive language, it is easy to persuade feeble minded people to do what you want them to do and what you think is