Stoicism Essay Final

 Grace Leung

4/6/11

Seneca

The Death of Seneca

            Although forced to suffer an unjust and painfully cruel death, Seneca epitomized Stoicism in his actions and words till his last breath. Convicted of a crime he did not commit, Seneca took the accusations dispassionately. When he received his death sentence by the tribune, he remained unmoved. Even when his beloved wife proclaimed that she wanted to die with him and the physical punishment began, Seneca remained calm. Stoicism is a belief that when confronted with hardships one has to control their emotions; the events surrounding the deaths of Seneca are a perfect demonstration of Stoicism in action.

            Seneca was a man accused of plotting against the famous ruler Nero. Seneca heard of the accusations against him while dinning with his wife and family. When he was brought before the tribune, Seneca remained calm and pointed.  He was asked to describe Seneca’s reaction, he “asserted that he saw no signs of fear, and perceived no sadness in his words or in his (Seneca’s) looks” (Tacitus).  There were no cries of injustice from Seneca. No attempt to change refute the charges against him. A prime example of stoic behavior, Seneca remained unmoved before his accusers.

Even when Seneca was told of his death sentence, he remained stoic. Seneca “quite unmoved, asked for tablets” (Tacitus) to end his life. And when the centurion refused this, Seneca quietly “turned to his friends, protesting that as he was forbidden to requite them, he bequeathed to them the only, but still the noblest possession yet remaining to him, the pattern of his life, which, if they remembered, they would win a name for moral worth and steadfast friendship.”(Tacitus). Still Seneca remained calm and steadfast. Seneca showed how noble he was in this quote and he also showed how willing he was in taking his death sentence. Offering to take the pills was a calm reaction to Seneca knowing he would eventually die. He was the perfect example of stoicism. .

            The last test to Seneca’s stoic beliefs was in his wife’s plea that she would follow him in death. He stoicly told her "I have shown you ways of smoothing life; you prefer the glory of dying. I will not grudge you such a noble example. Let the fortitude of so courageous an end be alike in both of us, but let there be more in your decease to win fame."(Tacitus) His steadfast love has him have her taken away, so she does not endure the pain that he has to. Seneca is calm when she begs him to let her die with him. He simply does not make an emotional parting but instead sends his wife away from harm’s way.

            Seneca was a man who was a perfect example of a Stoic. He showed no emotion in painful situations and in the face of fear. He was steadfast and determined to let no one stand in his way. Seneca’s death and every element surround it perfectly exemplified for his belief in stoicism. Seneca applied his beliefs to his life and demonstrated perfectly the belief of stoicism.

Work Cited

Tacitus: the death of seneca, 65 ce. Tacitus: The Death of Seneca, 65 CE. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/tacitus-ann15a.html>