Comparing Excess In The Pharsalia And Satryricon

The “Pharsalia” is written by Marcus Annæus Lucanus, and the “Satryricon” is authored by Gaius Arbiter Petronius. Both pieces address a general audience and recount part of a story, the former recounting the arrival of Caesar to the start of a civil war while the latter details the occurrences at an extravagant dinner party hosted by Trimalchio. Neither of the authors write with the simple intent to recount these stories, however, as each are motivated by the need to warn of the dangers of excess and thus incorporate the idea as an underlying theme. (Topic) Although excess can prove to be dangerous as depicted by the pieces, (Argument) one could conclude with greater accuracy that the severity of excess depends on various factors (Reason) because

(Point) When Caesar arrives in Rome to initiate a war, he embodies the dangers of Roman excess. (Evidence) As soon as Caesar arrives, he is confronted by a city guard and ordered to stop, “Then thus, with broken sighed the Vision spake: / ‘…No further dare.’ But Caesar’s hair was stiff…. Then spake he, “…Not with offense or hostile arms I come, / Thy Caesar, conqueror by land and sea….” He gives the word / And bids his standards cross the swollen stream” (Lucanus 530-531). (Explanation 1) Lucan depicts the confrontation between the city guard and Caesar, as the guard warns Caesar against entering the city only for the latter to exclaim his own innocence and importance before ordering his men to cross the barrier. (ex2) The conflict escalates after this confrontation as a result of Caesar’s excessive pride, culminating in a civil war between Romans and proving that excess can be dangerous when held and abused by certain individuals. (ex3) The conflict at the city limit effectively supports both authors’ claim that excessiveness can be a dangerous trait and does little to suggest otherwise. (Translation) However, Petronius would inadvertently counter this point in his own

(Point) Although the feast is depicted as excessively extravagant to the point of waste, its consequences are nearly as insignificant as those of the discarded tennis balls. (Evidence) Encolpius describes the feast with a sentiment between awe and disdain, “…Spartan dogs began dashing around the table. A tray followed them in which was set a boar of great size with a liberty-cap above him…. All around were little pigs made of pastry…. These were intended for keepsakes to carry away…. After Trimalchio had ordered a bird to be given to each guest…” (Petronius 541-542). (Explanation 1) Encolpius clearly describes the feasts’s extravagance by stating that dogs performed a pre-meal show, a great boar was presented as the main course, and that each guest was given a personal pig-pastry and bird. (ex2) Although one would expect such a magnificent feast to be the product of great generosity, the meal is instead depicted as the product of excessive profligacy and vanity, but the event is relatively inconsequential. (ex3) Although one cannot respect such a selfish execution of the party, it hardly depicts excess as dangerous due to the fact that all the guests were implied to attend of their own will, were under no harm, and could leave the party at their own will, contrary to the inescapable and deadly civil war that Caesar