Cato and Scipio Compared

CATO AND SCIPIO COMPARED Comparison of Biography genre and History genre, through analysis of Plutarch's Cato the Censor and Polybius' Book X description of the Career of Scipio the Elder [two exact contemporaries] Biography: Discussed Plutarch Alexander chapter 1 (classic definition of biography): character rather than grand exploits, private and intimate rather than public and official, artist's sketch rather than photograph, the `revealing anecdote rather than the measured narration of facts year-by-year Comparison of Cato and Scipio: Cato a `new man' [definition in Plutarch, Cato] aristocrat Cato a man of moderate means both sides of family Cato worked his way up by patronage in courts clientele of soldiers Cato a brilliant speaker (150 orations) Both see military service during the Hannibalic War: Cato as volunteer consul Both face the Barca family (Hasdrubal) War Heroes: public office Cato: strict governor of Sicily and Sardinia strict as governor of Spain (196-195) Spain 215-207 Cato anti usury (but a moneylender himself) booty & patronage on grandest scale WAR: Scipio a patrician S a millionaire on S inherits a huge Scipio as son of Hannibal (Zama 201) Scipio virtually ruled Scipio dispenses Changes in society: -devastation of Italy by occupation, urban dispossessed unable to reestablish themselves -slaves by millions brought in: cheap labor for aristocrats (latifundia) -overseas empire (Spain, Africa, Po Valley, southern France) -military/industrial complex: millions $$$ as provisioners of the War -liberation of slaves 200-150: total change in Italian demographics (1.5 million +++) (clientage on new, vast scale) -`Present Shock' to traditionalists like Cato (keep the old village agricultural model), and to liberals (like Scipio) enthusiasm for things Greek and Punic: - new words in vocabulary: moneylender, pimp, prostitute, cookie etc. Cato complains of purchase of boys as sex-objects and fancy foreign foods (but he does it himself) Cato as businessman (farms, ponds, forestry, etc.: Plutarch) canny clever: need to make money because no inherited wealth or political use, and `principles' forbid exploitation but cold-hearted: sells slaves when they get too old to work Scipio & family continue in the imperialism business (Wars in Greece and Asia) Cato organizes provincial government of Spains (to prevent some aristocrat from doing it and getting rich from the opportunities) Cato uses the court system to persecute internationalists (Scipios): perversion of justice Cato's censorship: harasses Scipio into retirement and death opposed by (snobbish aristocracy) because a new man and excessively `stoic' in principles Dangerous to system as usual. Cato causes great bitterness and division Both literary texts analyze virtues and vices: purpose of history and biography both In Rome (the Thucydidean virtue of incorruptibility does not apply: generosity must take its place) Cato's Origines, though history, left out all the aristocratic names of great heroes. Spite.