Anja Ibsen
Rhetoric 103A
GSI: Kuan S Hwa
26 November 2016
Figurative
Analysis of The First Oration Against
Catiline
Cicero’s First Oration Against Catiline is rife
with figurative language that constructs a narrative where Cicero embarks on a
mission of demonstrating that Catiline is guilty of trying to overthrow the
Republic of Rome. In his seventh passage, an extended metaphor, Cicero uses
figures of rhetorical speech to assert his dominance over Catiline.
In
this passage, Cicero constructs the metaphor of Catiline being “hemmed in” by
his prowess and intelligence (4). By employing the rhetorical devise of
metaphor in his statement of asserting that he “hemmed in” Catiline, Cicero is
able to liken Catiline to a loose thread (4). It is imperative that a loose
thread is sewed shut because if it is not the integrity of the whole piece of cloth
will be damaged as it starts to unravel. Catiline embodies the loose thread
that must be ‘hemmed’ and Rome becomes the fabric that has been saved from
unraveling because Cicero was able to stop Catiline.
Cicero develops the stance that he is a
powerful force that Catiline is not able to reckon with. Cicero does this
through the beginning of the passage, which is an epiplexis, where he belittles
Catiline by asking him questions that he is not expected to answer and cannot
answer. Cicero asks Catiline what can he “still expect, if night is not able to
veil [his] nefarious meetings in darkness, and if private houses can not
conceal the voice of [his] conspiracy within their walls” (1-2). These
unanswerable questions develop the viewpoint that Cicero is omnipresent and
that Catiline has no power.
Through the above passage, Cicero also
develops a personification of night where even darkness cannot “veil” all of
Catiline’s evil plans (1). Determining that night is the embodiment of darkness
and even it cannot keep Catiline’s plans for revolt shrouded it becomes clear
that Cicero is keen on enlightening the Senate about Catiline’s deeds. The
juxtaposition between light and darkness continues on through the passage, when
Cicero states that “all
of” Catiline’s “plans” were “clearer than the day to” the Senate (5). To
bring light to a matter at hand is to state that one understands the subject,
thus Cicero is stating that Catiline’s dark or evil plans are not fooling the
Senate. Not only does state that Catiline’s plans are so idiotic that the Senate
can see them clearly, but this statement also develops a source of irony where
Cicero makes fun of Catiline in his mission to dominate him. After stating that
his plans are so blatant to the Senate and himself, he then ironically states
that he can “remind” Catiline of his own plans (5). This evokes a sense of
amusement that Catiline is so unintelligent that he has forgotten his own plans
to overthrow the republic. Thus, through this rhetorical devise Cicero rises
above Catiline.
Cicero continues on with his narrative to
decimate Catiline into a mere spectacle by utilizing conduplication. When
remembering an unsuccessful attack made by Catiline Cicero reminds Catiline
that his demise was brought on by “[his]
order, by [his] garrison, by [his] watchfulness and care” (17). Cicero develops
the use of conduplication to assert himself and demonstrate power over Catiline
to showcase that it was indeed he who squashed Catiline’s revolt. He then goes
one step further to demoralize Catiline through conduplication when he states
to him “you do nothing, you plan nothing, you think of nothing” and through
this he annihilates Catiline’s personhood (17-18).
Cicero’s speech is aimed to demoralize Catiline
and it is successful in doing so because Catiline becomes a void subject through
the use of epiexis because he is never able to speak. Cicero is enabled to
embody the senate and the Republic to demonstrate their detestation for
Catiline’s actions. Rome becomes a light that can cast out darkness and it
becomes the fabric that can be sewn up time after time if a loose thread
appears. Cicero’s speech and his ability to decimate Catiline becomes a
metaphor for Rome’s power and vitality against forces that strive to infiltrate
its Republic.
*To
cite quotes I have numbered them 1-18 from the 18 lines provided by the seventh
passage.
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