How Important was the rhetorical Context of Cicero’s orations: his listeners’ fear of Catiline’s conspiracy and army?”
The last time the RPC discussed Cicero and Catiline. It explained that Cicero was able to kick Catiline out of Rome with just simple rhetoric. We discussed that in the world today, nothing like this would have been possible, In the story of these two, we see Cicero Attacking Catiline on his relationship with Rome. He claimed he was against the Roman Republic, and only there to hurt people. He claimed only negative things against him in a court of law.
There was no real information to incriminate Catiline. Instead he used insults and propaganda to boot Catiline from Rome. If Catiline had simply said he had no evidence for this, then the court would have been over in minutes. Making claims without a backing could not hold in a modern court, and hopefully not back then. However, Cicero tricked Catiline to leave Rome and never come back. He then continued to claim things about Catiline and his evil doings. Cicero was a master of tricking people and manipulation. Although out of Rome, Cicero continues to claim that Catiline was a threat to the public, and to the empire. Cicero used the idea of Catiline’s followers as a army that would overthrow the republic. He claimed that they would hurt citizens. He tried to explain to them that his followers were evil, unjust, and loyal to Rome and the government. Through his court actions and claims, he continued to pursue Catiline and turn the court and public against him.
Cicero used powerful wording, and was able to convince almost everybody of the evil and un justness of Catiline, his followers, and his loyalty towards Rome. Through Cicero’s powerful convincing words, Catiline became hated and feared by much of Rome. People were so convinced by his jar gin that the empire went into a state of panic, which put Cicero into a place of power. Blinded by fear hatred, and terror Rome disliked Catiline. Manipulating the masses, Cicero and his rhetoric had won. He himself was too blinded by the control and fear mongering he had over Rome and the government.
As discussed, Cicero and Catiline had a dueling relationship which ended up with Catiline out of Rome, and Cicero gaining fame and attention. This entire story is a great example of people aren’t who they think they are. Cicero was truly a wolf if sheep’s clothing. He was able to manipulate masses and fear monger much of the Roman Empire and their people. However, all of this could have been avoided if Catiline had fought back against his claims and accusations. What Cicero did was not right, however, he truly had a skill for using insults like weapons, and fears like facts.
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