Banerjee 1

Deepshikha Banerjee

Semester 1

English Honours

UID No: 0304200012

Roll No: 203657

Course: CC2/2

Works of Horace: A Reflection of Life & Experiences

The leading Roman poet in the time of Emperor Augustus. Classicists consider him as to be

one of the greatest and most original of Latin lyric poets. Appreciated for his technical mastery, his control

and polish and his mellow civilized tone. It is none other than Quintus Horatius Flaccus or commonly

known as Horace. Little is known of Horace’s life except from his own revelations in his later works. The

surviving works of Horace include two books of Satires, a book of Epodes, four books of Odes, three books

of letters or Epistles, and a hymn.

Horace was born on 8th December 65 BCE in Venusia, a region in South Italy. Different historians consider

Horace’s father in different ways like a freedman, who regained his freedom before the birth of Horace,

some say a small land owner and others as an auctioneer’s assistant. What is important is that Horace’s

father could afford to take him to Rome where Horace acquired his initial education.

Horace went to Athens in around 46 BCE where he completed his education at the academy. From there, he

acquired training in Literature and Philology. While completing his education at Athens, Horace was made a

military commander in the army of Brutus as per the political scenario of that time. He fought in the Battle

of Philippi in 42 BCE where the army of Brutus was defeated. Being exhausted and devastated after the war

he fled back to Italy but to his misery his father’s land was confiscated. Gaining no hope, Horace returned

back to Rome in 39 BCE and procured the position of a clerk in a treasury.

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His literary life and identity were yet to begin. The landmark that acted as the turning point in his life was at

38 BCE when Horace was introduced to Gaius Maecenas a man of letters from Etruria in Central Italy who

was one of Octavian’s principal political advisors who enrolled Horace in the circle of writers with whom he

was friendly and soon after he drew the attention of Octavian.

During this time Horace was working on Book 1 of Satires consisting of 10 poems written

in hexameter verse and published in 35 BC.

It is often said that individuals gather experiences, both good and bad in the journey called “Life”. Same

goes with Horace, reflecting ideas present in the society of that time. His literary writings are the best

examples of his personal experiences. That’s the reason why his writings are so raw and original.

The Satires reflect Horace’s adhesion to Octavian’s attempts to deal with the contemporary challenges of

restoring traditional morality, defending small landowners from large estates. The satires often exhault the

new man, who is the creator of his own fortune and does not owe it to noble lineage. Horace who

philosophically is a follower of Epicurean philosophy, believed that pleasure was the only good. His satires

reconcile traditional morality with hedonism. Self-sufficiency is the basis for his aspiration for a quiet life,

far from political passions and unrestrained ambition.

There are various key aspects containing within his Satires – he wrote Satires to highlight the flaws in

human society. In his Book 1 Satire, his purpose of this writing was to cleanse himself about certain

allegations or charges that brought to him, indirectly exposing the charge of Malice brought against him.

In Satires 1.4 we are apparently shown Horace’s views on the purpose of Satire and its status as a literary

genre. His possible irony and the extent to which he should be taken at face value (a long- standing source of

debate) are addressed here with particular reference to Aristotelian and Philodeman influence.

As per the Book 1 Satire the purpose that are hidden within it are The need to find contentment with one’s

lot, and the need to acquire the right habits of living in a state of carefree simplicity rather than being a

lonely sad miser.

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The need to be indulgent to the faults of our friends if we want them to be indulgent towards us. The poet

gives a quick version of Epicurean anthropology to explain the origins of morality and to discount the

rigidity of Stoic ethics.

Horace’s first literary manifesto. He discusses Lucilius’ outspoken frankness and says that his poems are not

really poetry at all but ‘closer to everyday speech.’ His choice of subject-matter is motivated not by malice

but by a gentle desire to help others with the sort of good advice which his father had given him.

The journey to Brundisium. Horace went with Maecenas and other influential men (including Virgil) to

conduct diplomatic discussions with Mark Antony in spring 37BC. The poem avoids any overt political

comment and focusses instead on the details of the journey and the accommodation ‘enjoyed’ or not.

Horace on his place in society: the son of a freedman he faces some criticism about his origins. His lack of

political ambition gives him the freedom to enjoy his life more than the aggressive social climber.

A short poem outlining the quarrel between a certain Persius and Rutilius Rex.

Following on the subject-matter of 4, Horace again looks at his predecessor Lucilius and repeats his

criticism of him. Lucilius may indeed have ‘scoured the city with his wit’ but his style was that of a muddy

river and he should have spent longer polishing and refining his verse.

So to conclude, in his Sermones (Latin for "conversations") or Satires (Latin for "miscellaneous

poems"), Horace combines Epicurean, that is, originally Greek, philosophy with Roman good sense to

convince his readers of the futility and silliness of their ambitions and desires.
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Bibliography

Works Citated

 James, Henry, Pyre. Horace. Published W.Suttaby. 1809 Print.

 Britannica. Horace: Influences, Personality.