AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree ofSarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
JOHN ABRAHAM STEVE KALALO
Student Number: 014214146
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
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Christ who has given me this wonderful life to live in. Millions of thanks to Ni
Luh Putu Rosiandani, S.S., M.Hum as my thesis advisor and to Adventina Putranti, S.S., M.Hum as my thesis reader as well as to the board of examiners.
I definitely thank my belovedPapiand Mamifor the patience, prayer and support all of the time. Thanks to my dearest brother and sisters, Bill, Eudia and Ita for praying for me and for taking care the business while I am doing the thesis.
My special gratitude goes to my dearest Maria Benedicta Dian Savitri for the love, prayer and support.
I dedicate my gratitude to my lovely family in Kalasan as well as in
Jakarta and Tobelo and my pals, 2001 English Letters fellows. In addition, thanks to Stenly, Evy Lesar, and Andrie Pinem for such support and prayer.
I thank all the lecturers and the staff of the Department of English Letters USD for helping me in all occasions, and to the staff of USD library for helping me finding so much information.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS... v
ABSTRACT... vi
ABSTRAK ... vii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION... 1
A. Background of the Study... 1
B. Problem Formulation... 3
C. Objective of the Study ... 4
D. Definition of Terms ... 4
CHAPTER II THEORETICAL REVIEW... 5
A. Review of Related Studies ... 5
B. Review of Related Theories ... 7
C. Review on the Social Condition of Rome ... 19
D. Theoretical Framework ... 32
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY... 34
A. Object of the Study... 34
B. Approach of the Study... 36
C. Method of the Study ... 36
CHAPTER IV ANALYSIS... 38
A. Democracy Depicted in the Novel Seen through the Plot and the Setting ... 38
B. The Civil War as a Consequence of the Democracy Depicted in the Novel... 53
C. The Corrupted Forms of the Democracy as the Source of the Civil War ... 59
CHAPTER V CONCLUSION... 66
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the Cause of the Civil War as Seen in Conn Iggulden’sEmperor: The Gates of Rome. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2009.
Government system is crucial in one nation’s life since the political policy is determined by the government system. Therefore, the nation’s upshot has much dependence on the system applied. Democracy as a form of a government system is the most common applied system nowadays. In fact, it is used long before the modern era, when the tyranny was applied everywhere. It can be seen from Conn Iggulden’sEmperor: The Gates of Romewhere the democracy in the novel is very significant to be explored.
There are three problems revealed from the topic. The first problem is how plot and setting reveal a democracy as a form of government of Rome in the novel. The second is how the war as a consequence of the democracy is depicted in the novel. The last is how the corrupted forms of the democracy can be the cause of the civil war.
In answering the problems, this study uses library research and sociocultural-historical approach. This approach is applied in this study since the study needs some evidences on the corrupted forms of the democratic that can be the cause of the civil war.
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the Cause of the Civil War as Seen in Conn Iggulden’sEmperor: The Gates of Rome. Yogyakarta: Jurusan Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra, Universitas Sanata Dharma, 2009.
Sistem pemerintahan adalah sangat penting dalam kehidupan suatu negara. karena kebijakan politik suatu negara ditentukan oleh sistem pemerintahannya. Karena itu, bisa dikatakan bahwa kemajuan atau kemunduran suatu negara akan sangat bergantung dari sistem yang dianut. Demokrasi sebagai suatu bentuk dari sistem pemerintahan adalah salah satu sistem yang paling banyak dianut pada zaman ini. Faktanya, demokrasi itu sendiri sudah digunakan jauh-jauh hari sebelum zaman modern, saat di mana kekuasaan tirani masih merajai. Ini bisa terlihat dalam buku karya Conn Iggulden yang berjudul Emperor: The Gates of Romeyang segi demokrasinya sangatlah menonjol untuk dibahas.
Ada tiga pokok permasalahan yang bisa dibahas dari topik ini. Masalah pertama adalah bagaimana alur dan seting di dalam novel mengungkapkan demokrasi sebagai bentuk pemerintahan di Roma. Masalah kedua adalah bagaimana perang sebagai konsekuensi dari bentuk pemerintahan demokrasi dalam cerita digambarkan. Masalah yang terakhir adalah bagaimana bentuk-bentuk demokrasi yang rusak dapat menjadi penyebab terjadinya perang saudara.
Untuk menjawab ketiga masalah tersebut, penelitian ini menggunakan studi pustaka dan pendekatan sosiokultural-sejarah. Pendekatan ini dilakukan karena dibutuhkan bukti-bukti mengenai bentuk demokrasi yang rusak yang dapat menjadi penyebab terjadinya perang saudara.
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1 A. Background of the Study
History is very important. Napoleon Bonaparte says that history is a
version of past events that people have decided to agree upon. Cicero, who is one of Roman greatest leaders and lives long time before Bonaparte, has a very strong
thought about history. He argues that history is the witness that testifies to the passing time; it illumines reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life and brings tidings of antiquity. Therefore, to study history is something interesting
and indeed important (http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/297.html).
People can learn many things from history. One of them is the system of government. The system, of course, plays the most important role in a nation
history. The policies made, based on the system, can determine the advancement of the nation. The policies, which are based on the system, can bring war to the
nation as well as peace and wealth. In modern era, one system that is very famous is democracy.
The word democracy is very well-known. Nowadays, almost all government call themselves as democratic government. Great Britain, France, United States of America, China and even a small and new country, such as Timor
Leste call their system of government as democratic. The People’s Republic of China proclaims itself democratic even as protestors demanding freedom of
imprisoned. It seems that no one wants to be called as antidemocratic. If all government try to say that they are democratic, then a problem of what the real
democracy is or who the real democratic government is will appear.
According to Winston Churchill, democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. In other words, democracy is a way of
life recognizing the equality and dignity of all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, or social standing. It holds that everyone is equal in court trials and other
legal matters. It provides freedom of speech, freedom of press, and the freedom of religion. A goal of democratic society is to assure each person an opportunity to make full use of his abilities. Despite the fact, democracy as a system of a
government for instance, can be the source of conflict (Hallowell, 1971:104).
Related to the history of democracy, literature can be one way to study
democracy. Van de Laar says that it introduces us into living world: in some respect resembling the world we live in (Van de Laar, 1963:163). The author that creates the work makes an observation in the real world before creates the work.
Therefore, the literary work becomes an important part of human life, because the literary work is one of the important mediums to express our thought, feeling, and
experience as William Henry Hudson says:
“Literary is a vital record of what men have seen in life, what they have experience of it, what they thought and felt those aspect of it, which have the most immediate enduring interest all of us. It is thus fundamentally an expression of life through the medium of language” (Hudson, 1958: 10).
based on history. One of the literary works, in this case a novel, that created based on history is Conn Iggulden’sEmperor Series.
Conn Iggulden’s Emperor has a very unique plot as well as the conflict. Since the novel is based on the life of Julius Caesar, one of Roman greatest leaders, and also based on the history happened around Caesar’s life, the novel
offers us a story of vivid life of a nation which is well-known as the biggest nation at its era, indeed biggest empire that earth ever has. The struggle of the nation, the
politics maneuver of the politician, the romance of the protagonist, all actions are poured in one great novel. The novel became bestseller in many countries. Even,
producers create serial from the novel.
From the novel, people can study many things. The war, as the rising conflict leading to the conflict of the story, for instance, is something that can be
explored more. Questions, such as why the war happened, what the purpose of the war was, who were involved on the war, who became victims in the war, who won the war, what the result of the war was, and many other interesting topics can
be explored from it. Therefore, people can collect information from the novel and make a study about those several things.
B. Problem Formulation
Based on the background of the study, there are three questions formulated
1. How do plot and setting reveal a democracy of Rome in Conn Iggulden’s
Emperor: the Gates of Rome?
2. How is the civil war as a consequence of the democracy depicted in the novel?
3. How can the corrupted forms of the democracy be the cause of the civil war?
C. Objective of the Study
This thesis has three objectives. First is to find out how the democracy revealed in the novel through plot and setting. The second objective is to discover
how the war as a consequence of democracy depicted in novel. The final objective is to reveal the corrupted features of the democracy as the cause of the civil war.
D. Definition of Terms
To avoid ambiguity the writer wants to gives a definition on the special
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There are four parts discussed in this chapter. The initial part is the review
of certain studies related to the work and the topic of this study. Then, there is the review of several theories used in this study. The third part is the review on the democracy. Next is the review on the sociocultural-historical background that is
the social condition of Rome. The last one is the theoretical framework where the contributions of all previous studies, theories and reviews in solving the problems
of the study are stated.
A. Review of Related Studies
There are some studies talking about Conn Iggulden’sEmperor: the Gates of Rome. For example, in Jack Whites’s article in <www.brothersjudd. com/index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/1494 >, it is said that in the first book of his Roman series, Iggulden demonstrated the early life of two young boys. The boys are Gaius, and the other is Marcus an orphan, who is Gaius’ best
friend. The description and characterization of Caesar is closely pictured, with no difference from any other civilian. Caesar’s father is the Roman Senator who is
sent to the city, Rome, to guard the country, and Caesar’s mother is a housewife who is ailed to madness. Gaius lives in an estate with the estate overseer, Tubruk, a former gladiator. Tubruk brings in Renius. The boys are trained by Renius and
This first from Mr. Iggulden features two young boys--Gaius, the son of a Roman Senator, and Marcus, an orphan--growing up on an estate just outside Rome. With Gaius's father often absent because the rise of Sulla threatens the Roman Republic and with his mother prey to madness, much of the boys’ upbringing is left to the estate overseer, Tubruk, a former gladiator. He in turn brings in one of the most famed gladiator's of the day, Renius, to train the boys to become soldiers worthy of Rome. Much of the book deals with the brutal regimen that Renius imposes, one that makes them men but causes them to hate their harsh mentor. When the final test he subjects them too leads to almost murderous violence an elderly healer, Cabera, fortuitously appears on the scene and the lives of the two young men and the three older become entwined as the action moves to the city and then to service in the Legions (www.brothersjudd.com /index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/1494/Gates%20of% 20Rom. htm).
In this review, it is added that the strength of the novel is in the ability of
Iggulden to put the historic setting and background as well as the characterizations of five great men and women with whom they become involved. All these things were wonderfully performed by Iggulden.
The great strengths of the novel include not just Mr. Iggulden's facility with the historic setting and background but his ability to render action scenes in virtual Sensurround and, most of all, the characterizations of these five and of the great men and the women with whom they become involved. Tubruk, Renius and Cabera are perhaps the best trio of supporting characters this side of the Musketeers (www.brothersjudd.com /index.cfm/fuseaction/reviews.detail/book_id/1494/Gates%20of% 20Rom. htm).
Another review is from Roz Kaveney’s article in www.amazon.co.uk. Here, the reviewer said that this first volume of a sequence of novels about Julius
Caesar at its best in its scenes of grueling training in swordplay and dirty fighting. It means that Iggulden showed a great display of fighting and struggling during
loyalties too simple.” It creates such perception that politics is only about power and never about ideas in Rome.
The next review on this book is from www.ebay.com which tells that the book is a historical novel. Moreover, it shows the fortunes of Julius Caesar, from
his early childhood, when he was still called Gaius, his life adventure before becoming the Caesar of Rome, until his rise to be the ruler of Rome.
From all these studies, it is clear that the novel pictures the early life of
Gaius Julius Caesar, the great ruler of Roman Empire. He is surrounded by many people from his childhood. All of them have great possibilities to influence or to
develop the personality and the character of Julius Caesar. These studies may help to discover the way the people around Caesar help him to be the great ruler of Rome.
This study which has not been done by anybody will focus on the setting and plot that reveals the democracy in the novel. Also the study will focus on the
war as the consequent of the form of democracy that employed in the novel. Lastly the focus is to reveal the weakness of the form of democracy employed in the novel that causes the war.
B. Review of Related Theories
1. Theories on Plot
One of the elements that form a novel is a plot. It is the structure of its actions, as these are ordered and rendered toward achieving particular emotional
that being done in the novel. Plot it self has many form variety, for example some plot is made to achieve tragic effect, others to achieve comedy effect, romance, or
satire (1981:137).
Murphy in Understanding Unseens says that a plot is a carefully thought out plan in which all the events, all the actions and reactions of the characters, contribute towards the forward movement of the story. The story then moves on, carrying the reader with it up and over a series of crests until the climax of the
story is reached and everything is resolved, generally to the reader satisfaction (Murphy, 1972: 134).
Another theory on plot is Kennedy’s theory. Kennedy divides plot into three parts, it is the beginning, the middle, and the end. The initial statement of the conflict is stated in the beginning and as called the exposition. The middle comes
from the rising conflicts to the climax. After climax, there will be a crisis to a denouement in which the resolution is stated in the end (Kennedy, 1999:14-19).
For Stanton, plot’s structure tends to follow regular forms which are exposition, complication or rising action, climax and denouement. The reason is that the basic function of plot is to provide the structure of a unified and complete
dramatic function (Stanton, 1965: 16-17).
2. Theories on Setting
The setting of a story not just merely means its time and place but sometimes refers to the spiritual background where the story takes place. A better
explanation in theirA Handbook to Literaturethat there are four elements forming a setting, namely:
(1) the actual geographical location, its topography, scenery, and such physical arrangements as the location of the windows and doors in a room; (2) the occupations and daily manner of living of the characters;
(3) the time or period in which the action takes places, for example, epoch in history or season of the year;
(4) the general environment of the characters, for example, religious, mental, moral, social, and emotional conditions through which the people in the narrative move (1986: 465).
In other words, the setting is the environment of the events in the story and the immediate world in which they occur.
The setting is generally presented through descriptive passages. However, during the reading of a work of literature, the readers should be aware of all the possibilities why the author has chosen such a background and stressed such
details. The readers then may imagine how the setting is changed and how the story is described with different details in order to get to know how this change
will affect the rest of story. Furthermore, the readers may find out how the setting directly or indirectly influences the characters and exemplifies the theme of the story (Stanton, 1965: 18).
Murphy in his Understanding Unseenalso has some points about how the setting is important. Firstly, he talks about the setting of time:
a. Present time
b. Past time
An author may choose to go backwards in time and writing about
historical events to attempt to light up the past to readers. Some imagination may be used to go back to past historical times.
c. Future time
Through his imagination, an author may also take readers to the future. The story may deal with the condition of the world free from any
economic-social-political pressure (totalitarian tyranny, anarchy, capitalism), or with the development of human civilization exploring other planets in the universe or
dealing with robots. d. No specific time
An author has the right to give the readers no indication of the time in
which the story takes place. The story is something like the old fairy stories; they happen ‘once upon a time’ (1972: 143-144).
Secondly, Murphy states some points on the setting of place. He says that a story may have four kinds of place as the settings. The first is a familiar place, which is considered by the author to be familiar to most of the readers, whether
from experience or by close acquaintance. Thus a British writer may choose to write about events that take place in London or any other part of Britain. The
entirely imaginary place which is not familiar to anyone at all may be used as well by the author to be the setting of his or her work of literature (1972:145).
3. Theories on Conflict
Abrams states that generally plot deals with conflict. It is the relation of protagonist and the antagonist character. But in addition to the conflict between individuals, there may be the conflict of protagonist against the fate, or against
circumstances that stand between the protagonist and the goal that he or she sets himself or herself to be achieved and in some works the conflict is between
opposing desires or values in a character’s own mind (Abrams, 1981: 137).
According to Holman and Harmon, conflict is the struggle that grows out of interplay of two opposing focus in the plot. They furthermore state that conflict
may occur in the struggle against nature, against another person, against society and the struggle for mastery. Conflict may be an argument of opposing forces, like
man against man, man against nature, man against fate or perhaps the internal one between two opposing parts of men personality (1986: 107).
Stanton mentions that there are two important elements of plot, which are
conflict and climax, and he divides conflict into two parts: i. Internal Conflict
ii. External Conflict
External conflict is the conflict between a character and his environment.
It can be the conflict between character against fate, or the character against the circumstances that exist between the character and the goal that he or she sets
himself or herself to be achieved (Stanton, 1965:54).
4. Theory of Democracy
According to Hallowell in the World Book, democracy is a form of government, a way of life, and a goal or ideal. The term also refers to a country
that has a democratic form of government. The word democracy means rule by the people. Abraham Lincoln described such self-government as “government of the people by the people, for the people” (Hallowell, 1971: 104).
In addition, Hallowell says that the democratic way of life recognizes the equality and dignity of all persons regardless of race, religion, sex, or social
standing. It holds that everyone is equal in court trials and other legal matters. It provides freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion. A goal of democratic society is to assure each person an opportunity to make full use of
his abilities (1971:104).
The characteristics of democracy vary from one country to another.
a. Freedom of Expression
According to Montesquieu, all people in democratic nation have power
(Errikson, 1971:106). It means the citizens of a democratic nation are able to select their leaders and influence the policies of their government. For this reason,
discussion and understanding of public issues are necessary. To encourage the exchange of ideas, democracies guarantee freedom of speech, the press, assembly, and petition (giving a written request to a government official).
Citizens of a democracy have many opportunities to make their government truly representative. Chances for taking part are usually greatest at the
local level. In many local school districts in the United States, for example, voters elect the school board members, and may run for office themselves. Citizens may attend school board meetings and meetings of city councils, and listen to debates
on matters that affect them. The people may form groups to influence opinion on public issues and policies. School bond issues and other steps that involve the
spending of large sums of money must be given to the voters for approval.
In a democratic society, it is important that politicians know how the people feel about public issues, if for no other reason than to be re-elected.
Government officials are influenced by public opinion. They often can-and must-try to lead and change public opinion, but they are limited in the methods they can
b. Free Elections
John Locke argues that man by his nature has certain rights and duties.
These rights include liberty, life and ownership of property (Errikson, 1971: 107). The liberty here is related to the political right to have equality or the same power.
It can be applied in the freedom of electing national leaders. Free elections give the people a chance to choose their leaders or representatives and express their opinions on various issues. Elections are held periodically in democracies to
ensure that elected officials truly represent the people. The possibility of being voted out of office helps assure that these officials pay attention to public opinion.
In most democracies, the only legal requirements for voting or for holding public office have to do with age, residence, and citizenship. The democratic process permits citizens to vote by secret ballot, free from force or bribes. It also
requires that election results be protected against dishonesty
c. Majority Rule and Minority Rights
Decisions in a democracy are made according to majority rule. The people accept the choices made by the majority of voters in free elections. After
legislatures pass laws, the people follow the will of the majority of representatives. Such majority rule is based on the idea that the judgment of the
many is likely to be better than the judgment of the few.
Majority rule does not mean that the majority can do whatever it wants. The majority must keep in mind the rights and freedoms of the minority.
people, even by extremely large majorities. These rights include the basic freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and religious worship. The majority must be
willing to listen to the views of the minority. The majority also must recognize the right of the minority to try to become the majority by legal means (Hallowell,
1971:104).
d. Political Parties
Parties are a necessary part of democratic government. Rival parties make elections meaningful by giving voters a choice among candidates who represent
different interests and points of view. Most political parties try to unite as many of these divided interests and opinions as possible through a broad party program. The United States and Great Britain have found that a two-party system works
best in uniting various interests. In a system with more than two major parties, it is more difficult to get and keep majority rule.
In democratic countries, the party or parties that are out of power serve as the "loyal opposition." That is, they criticize the policies and actions of the party in power. In this way, the party in power is called on to justify its actions, and is
made responsible to the people. In a totalitarian country, criticism of the party in power may be labeled as treason. Often, only the "government party" is allowed to
e. Division of Power.
Democratic societies believe it is important to divide and spread out
political power. According to Montesquieu, a democratic nation should divide its power into three institutions, namely Executive, Legislative, and Judicative (Sills,
1972: 110). Under the separation of powers, each branch is independent, has a separate function, and may not usurp the functions of another branch. However, the branches are interrelated. They cooperate with one another and also prevent
one another from attempting to assume too much power. This relationship is described as one of checks and balances, where the functions of one branch serve
to contain and modify the power of another. Through this elaborate system of safeguards, the Framers of the Constitution sought to protect the nation against tyranny.
Nowadays, those ideas of division of power by Montesquieu are improved. The Institution function and its rights and its duties become clearer.
- Legislative: According to Roche and Stedman, the primary function of the legislative body has always been to declare law, to make law, or to act as a forum in which the merits of particular laws can be discussed. In other words,
the function of Legislative are to become a law maker, and a government policy controller based on the voice of the people that they represents (1954:
196).
- Judiciary: Roche And Stedman state in their book that the judiciary stands as the arbiter of differences between individuals and between individuals and the
techniques or from specific statutes or codes, to conflicts that arises in society and to see that these conflicts are settled in accordance with regularized
procedure (1954: 320).
- Executive: Roche and Stedman state that executive as a democratic institution
is an institution that has objective to supply strong, responsible direction to the community. It means its duty to enforce the decision of the community upon recalcitrant elements in the society and in the bureaucracy with a strong
responsibility to make sure the power given is not misused to create a tyranny (1954:333).
Democracy has various arrangements to prevent any person or branch of government from becoming too powerful. For example, the constitution of the United States divides political power between the states and the federal
government. Some powers belong only to the states, some only to the federal government, and some are shared by both.
The constitution further divides the powers of the US government among the President, Congress, and the federal courts. No one can serve in more than one of these branches of government at the same time. The power of each branch is
designed to check or balance the power of the others. Powers not granted to governments by a constitution or charters are often reserved for the citizens.
f. Constitutional Government
Democratic government is a government based on law, and in most cases
government, and limit what the government may do. They also say how laws shall be made and enforced. Most constitutions include a detailed bill of rights that
describes the basic liberties of the people and forbids the government to violate those rights.
A constitution may be written or unwritten. The United States has a written constitution. The British constitution is unwritten. It consists of laws passed by Parliament, such documents as the Magna Charta, and common-law
customs and beliefs (Hallowell, 1971:105).
g. Private Organization
In a democracy, individuals and private organizations carry on many social and economic activities that are, for the most part, free of government control. For
example, newspapers and magazines are privately owned and managed. Labor unions are run by and for the benefit of worker, not the state. Democratic
governments generally do not interfere with religious worship. Private schools operate along with public schools. Most businesses in democratic societies are privately owned and managed. Great Britain, Sweden and some other democratic
nations have government ownership and control of certain basic industries and services.
In totalitarian societies, the government alone organizes and controls most associations. The people are not permitted to establish or join most groups without the permission of the state. In such countries as the Soviet Union, the economy is
C. Review on the Social Condition of Rome
1. Social life
This novel is a historical-based novel. Therefore, the history of Rome around 2nd century BC has to be revealed to create an additional information.
According to Franco Cavazzi’s article in www.roman-empire.net, every five years, each male Roman citizen has to register in Rome for the census. In this census, he has to declare his family, wife, children, slaves and riches. If he fails to
do this, his possessions will be taken away and he will be sold into slavery. Throughout the entire republican era, registration in the census is the only way that a Roman can ensure that his identity and status as a citizen is recognized.
Fathers registered their sons, employers, as well as their freedmen.
Above all, the census is made to count the number of citizens and to
review the potential military strength and future tax proceeds. However, the census performs a highly symbolical function. To the Romans, the census makes them more than a mere crowd or barbarian mass. It makes them a populus, a people, capable of collective action. The census is one of the foundation stones of their civilization. The job of compiling the lists is left to the incorruptible and
noble-blooded men of substance who are appointed for their proven integrity and authority. They inspect each man, carefully evaluating his riches and his rank and placing him in his rightful place within the civic hierarchy of Rome.
However, Romans are social creatures. The truly civilized citizen has to be more than educated or successful. The Roman needs a community, a family, or at least a
group of friends around him. Therefore, there is no better place for him than the city. In the Roman mind, cities form its inhabitants into greater, abler, nobler
beings. However, the barbarian tribes still live isolated all over the countryside.
In the earliest days of Rome, the Forum changes several times, but it always remains the center of Roman life. In the early days, political life is
restricted to the comitium, the northern corner of the Forum, while the rest of the open square is occupied by the market. In the later days of the republic, the shops and the market are largely moved to make way for a greater public meeting space,
as well as for Caesar's Forum.
Generally it is Caesar's contribution which initiated the Forum's greatest
luxury. Every emperor in turn set out to add to the architectural glory of Rome's centre. With the growth of the empire and the increase in Rome's population, the old Forum becomes too small to cope with the total mass of numbers. In time
other forum are added, the Forum of Caesar, of Augustus, of Vespasian, of Nerva and that of Trajan.
The people in the Forum vary considerably as the day went on. Life in the Forum reaches its height at about 11 o'clock each day. Wheeled vehicles are
particularly women, being carried in litters by their slaves. During these busy hours in the city centre there iss a tremendous hustle and bustle in the Forum.
Affairs of state are debated in the offices. In the basilica businessmen make deals, financiers discuss loans and the money-changes have their stands and
stand jingling their money noisily in their hands to attract the attention of any potential customers. Close to the courtrooms the baying of the spectators and the loud voices of the lawyers can be heard from quite a distance. In other places
perhaps the loud shout of a quarrel or a fight, about to break out can be heard. Sometimes, if a public figure had died, his funeral procession would lead through the Forum. Fathers would traditionally bring their sons to the Forum when their
offspring wear his toga for the first time.
As the empire expanded, the crowds on the Forum become yet bigger and
more colorful. It seems that nearly every nationality is present on the Forum in the days of empire. However, the Romans are not very fond of such foreigners. Most despised of all are the Orientals. Eastern businessmen and scholars are the targets
of a traditional Roman hatred of the eastern civilizations.
Nobles that are moving about on the Forum always followed by a group of
clients who is eager to please their patron and sure to see that he comes to no harm. Many such nobles show off their wealth. In addition, they are adorned in
soothsayers and charlatans of all shapes and sizes are all around. The Forum may have lain at the heart of the centre of Rome, but it is not the only place of public
life. Other areas too are busy during the day.
2. Social Class
Franco Cavazzi in his article in www.roman-empire.net says that it is to others that a Roman had to look for any confirmation of his ability and identity. In
Roman society, confirmation by others is sought as well as required. No Roman can be his own judge, but he or she can see himself or herself only through the
eyes of others. One needs also to consider that Romans do not know of modern day psychology and hence do not analyze their thoughts and feelings. They look not inwards but to others to understand themselves. For it is the opinion of others
which dictated the opinion a Roman ultimately held of himself. 'A good man' is hence a man deemed worthy by others, a man deemed honorable. Glory or honor
is also measured only in the recognition it drew from others.
To Romans the only advantage to be gained from glory and honor is to use it to climb the social ladder. Any credit among one's fellow men gained by one's
ability, either in office or on the battlefield, is immediately used to further one's political fortunes; all in the hope of finally achieving that distant goal—a seat in the Roman Senate. Therefore, any achievement is obviously boasted about to
do the bragging oneself, simply finds others who will do it for him. In Rome, where nobility, military and political leadership are all intertwined, there
will be no end of bragging, showing-off and a boundless supply of flattering rumors.
However, in a society in which so much depended on the light in which others see you, their view can not only elevate others, but it could destroy others as well. Any news, whether it is good or bad, spread like wildfire in a society that
spends much of the day gossiping in the public baths, or mingling at the forum. In the theatres, actors would in their plays praise or deride public figures of the day.
From the points of economic and social condition, generally Romans can
be divided into three classes as stated by Franco Cavazzi’s article in www.roman-empire.net. The classes are:
a. Patricians
The Patricians are the highest class of all. The right to be a member of
Patrician family is hereditary or in another words it is for highborn person. Every head of a Patrician family can join the Senate. It does not mean every Patrician man can be a senator after he is married. Only the head of a family has the right.
For example, the Julius family, the one that can be the senator is the older person of the family, or the head, except the person retires from the Senate. But it does
position such as Consul can do this action. Therefore almost every Patrician is a Senate member.
Usually the Patrician family is a rich family. They have houses in the city but also they have estate, a land with house on it and field of plant to produce
food, cattle and also other goods, outside the city. The man of Patrician family works as a politician or having a military career. They leave the estate to an overseer that controls the estate cash flow.
Beside the wealth Patrician also has a heredity rights in the religious cults, Military rank. Since Patricians have to marry another Patrician the heredity rights,
the wealth and other privileges usually can not be taken by the other class and it makes them so powerful in the society. They also can have clients as well as the Senate. They have to protect their clients from other Patricians or powerful people
and support them, financially or morally. In return they will have the favor of their clients to help them in vote or other tasks.
b. Plebeians
Another class of people exist in the novel is the Plebeians. This class
consists of common people that are not born as the Patricians. Unlike the Patricians, this class is more open in accepting other class member to join this
class. It means that the member of class that has lower status can join Plebeians if they can fulfill the requirement indeed. Plebeians can have a politic or military career. Though, they have to start it from very beginning, except they have a
The Plebeians work in many fields. Some works as clients to the Patricians, some other work as a military officer, craftsmen, merchant, and other
common people job. However they can do a double job, for example as a client and also as a politician. They will provide the information and other help for their
boss in return for money or protection. All clients are Plebeians but not all Plebeians are clients.
The client is the loyal supporter to a high-standing Roman family. The
head of the higher family is thepatronus, the patron. Clients act as a kind of 'clan' to the patron. They support him loyally in any risk, whether it is military or political one. Meanwhile, the patron will aid his clients, representing their
political interests through the office he held, or even defending them in the courts as their lawyer, when it is necessary. This bond between patron and client is one
of the very foundations of Roman society.Fides, loyally, is a prized virtue, which holds together families, as well as the social order through the client system. Such Roman loyalty is felt not merely to particular men, but to their families. If a
patron died, his client would hence support his heir. Some noble families could indeed count on the support of very many people, in the city of Rome, as well as
in the countryside towns. Even entire kingdoms could become clients to the very Roman commander who had conquered them. It is worth pointing out just how deep the Roman idea of fides ran. Titus Labienus has been a general of Julius Caesar's throughout his conquest of Gaul. However, whatever friendship may have formed between Caesar and his loyal commander, once the civil war began
Picenum, a town which is a client of Pompey's. This goes to show that the client system could also be very much military in nature—at least during the days of the
Roman republic.
A patron can raise an army, recruited from among his clients, if he has the
means to maintain it. The patron also can create his own small force as a personal armed guard. A patron's armed guard may be used to protect the patron as well as his clients.
The client system truly forms the foundations of the Roman state. It creates stability, as the solid loyalty of clients can keep families in power for centuries. The client would act as a kind of police, making sure no harm came to
their own, that nothing is stolen from them. If the patron may not always provide help personally, it would most often be he who coordinates it, perhaps asking
other clients to help out one of his supporters who has fallen upon hard times. However, the wealth of most patrons of course allows him to hand out money to those they deemed deserving of such aid. Maintaining guards, organizing any
help, defending people in the courts, even openly handing out money, it is no wonder that the patrons are seen as protectors of their group. It is for the purpose
of representing their clients in court that most sons of high-ranking families are trained in law. If some matters failed and one has to struggle to get a retrial, then a patron might always call on some of his clients to stage demonstrations outside
It remains to be said that the wordpatronuslater becomes the Italian word padrino, the expression used to describe the godfather in the Mafia. On closer inspection, the Roman client system with its loyalty and solidarity does show many similarities to the Mafia. It is also telling that the Mafiosi refer to a common
cause as 'la cosa nostra' (our cause) and regard themselves as family, 'la familia.
c. Slave
For modern society frowns on the use of slavery, then what needs to be considered is that Rome followed in the footsteps of the ancient civilizations
which had gone before it and who had all used slave labor. It is hence understood as quite a normal thing for the vanquished to be taken into slavery, or to purchase slaves from the barbarian realms. If ancient Egypt had used slaves at least two and
a half thousand years before the Romans, then also the Babylonians, Indians, Chinese, Persians and Greeks employed slavery as a normal part of their societies.
The fact that slavery continued in the west for as long as the nineteenth century on American plantations shows that Rome is merely one period in a truly long lasting tradition.
It can be said that the Romans, from around 200 BC, based much of their society on the exploitation of slavery. Their economic systems become heavily dependent on the widespread existence of slave labor. Slaves labored in the mines
largely completed and maintained by slaves. Also the government's state bureaucracy depended very much on educated slaves to keep the administration of
the empire running. Even key institutions like the state's mints or the distribution of the corn dole to poor Romans depended on slaves. Other educated slaves also
kept the private industries going, by functioning as their accountants and clerks. Other vital services were provided by literate slaves who served as teachers, librarians, scribes, artists and entertainers - even doctors. Also in the private
houses of Rome, it was slaves who were the servants of their Roman masters, watching over their private lives. From the man who cleaned the sewers to the
emperor's scribe, slaves were an essential part of Roman society. In the latter centuries of the Roman empire, slavery began gradually to decrease in importance, as the rise of Christianity demanded more benevolence, and - no less
importantly - the supply of slaves began to dwindle.
Had the early Romans been content with a small number of household slaves, these numbers rose steeply with Rome's increasing wealth. Simple tasks,
such as the master's bath, would require the attendance of more than one slave. A slave was used to take the children to school. In households of the rich where
there were many slaves, they were divided into groups of ten, each under orders of a foreman. The running for the household was in some homes left in the hands of a freed slave, the so-calledprocurator(in earlier days he was called theatriensis). Even those Romans with very moderate means expected to be well served, taken at least three slaves with them to the baths. Not to have one slave was a sign of the
Slaves used for industrial purposes were generally divided into gangs. These gangs were closed groups of specialist workers who tended to work as a
unit and were generally not split up again.
The acquiring of slaves through conquest was common practice among all
the civilizations of the ancient world and Rome was no exception. Julius Caesar, having captured a town in Gaul, sold on the spot the entire population of a district of the place to the salve traders who accompanied his army. Once all were
counted the slavers walked away with no less than 53,000 people. Up to the days of Augustus, a marriage between a slave needed not be recognized by its master and enjoyed no protection in law. The children of such a couple would be born as
slaves. A slave who ran away would face branding or possibly even death. The treatment of slaves was totally in the hands of the owner, and usually varied
according to their abilities. Some among them were trained as skilled fighters to perform as gladiators in the arena. And it was at one of those gladiator schools in Capua that the famous revolt of Spartacus arose in 73 BC. If the gladiators' lot
was cruel, then others too had a pitiful existence. Farm slave gangs would have to work in the fields in chains, and were locked up each night in barracks.
However, not all slaves in the countryside necessarily had such a terribly existence. Herdsmen for example, of which there was very many, were granted reasonable independence as they went about their lives, watching over the herds
they were entrusted with. Some Romans would even see the raising of slaves as a form of investment. Cato the Elder bought young slaves whom he would then
from Cato's writings that one knows of his opinion that twelve slaves - a foreman and eleven workers - were deemed sufficient to run a farm of some 150 acres,
which would grow olives and rear sheep.
The abundance of slavery is also seen as having hampered technological
advances in many industries, not least agriculture. For with the existence of so plentiful supply of labor at almost no cost, there was little reason to develop any forms of labor saving equipment. Under the supervision of the aediles the slave dealers sold their wares publicly, either in the open forum or in shops. Slaves for sale would sometimes be stood on revolving stands. Those just brought from abroad were put on display with one foot whitened with chalk. From the neck of
each slave for sale hung a plaque with all the information required by potential buyers, nationality, abilities, good and bad points, etc. The best slaves were to be
found in the saepta near the forum, the meeting place of the fashionable world, where the best shops were. Naturally, prices varied with the age and quality of the slave. There are records of fabulous sums being paid, as well as very small prices.
One evidently particularly talented teacher of grammar (grammaticus) is supposed to have fetched 700,000 sesterces, a fortune. But such excessive prices were rare.
By general rule a slave at some skill was worth twelve times as much as an untrained one.
Intelligence and learning were the attributes which elevated the price of a
seeking 'jesters' for their own cruel amusement. Some slaves could buy their freedom. This principle, which became fairly widespread, consisted of allowing a
slave to have a small 'part-time job' selling wares or services. The profits would be his to keep (the peculium). And in time he could purchase his freedom. But this system was far from being pure kindheartedness on part of the owners. Like this an old slave might buy his freedom, allowing his master to buy a new young slave with the money. Hence the master didn't lose his investment with the slave's
eventual death. The practice became so popular after the fall of the republic that emperor Augustus saw it necessary to issue laws restricting it. For once freed, a
slave enjoyed full citizenship except for the right of holding public office. And some freedmen used their skills, to become richer even than the masters who had once possessed them.
Another privilege a slave might be awarded by his master, apart from the the peculium, was the right to choose a mate from among the female slaves and live with her in a form of marriage, the so-called contubernium. This slave-marriage though had no legal status and any children born from it belonged as slaves to the master of the house. In imperial days the contubernium became legally recognized, forbidding any master to sell partners of the contubernium separately.
Roman law regarded slaves as mere chattels. They were subject to the will
joints or bones, branding of the forehead with letters denoting the slave as a runaway, liar or thief and crucifixion were all punishments which were inflicted
upon slaves. Even being thrown to the wild beasts in the circuses or even being burnt alive in a cloak soaked in pitch.
However, in the days of the empire the unlimited power of the master over his slaves was curbed to some extent. Hadrian decreed that a master should no longer hold power over a slave's life and death. Furthermore, Constantine the
Great defined the killing of a slave as murder.
However, deliberate cruelty against slaves was frowned upon by a society which did recognize slaves as human beings. Romans generally saw the difference
between the slave and the freeman as a difference in status, not as a matter of any racial or cultural superiority and inferiority. Naturally there are many gruesome
tales of abuse and brutal punishments. But in turn there are also reports of some slaves being utterly devoted to their masters; some enduring horrendous tortures and death rather than betraying their masters. Yet still the Roman view of slaves
was one of contempt. Slaves were people one looked down upon. Kindness toward them was rare, even seen as a sign of weakness.
D. Theoretical Framework
To conduct this study, some theories are applied. The theories used firstly
this study deals with the pictured of democracy from the perspective of the setting and plot. The second theory used is the theory of democracy. It is needed since the
topic of this study deals with the form of democracy. The review of the social condition in Rome will surely give more description and explanation about the
34
This chapter consists of three subtitles, namely the object of the study, the
approach of the study and the method of the study. The first subtitle covers the description of the object of this study. In the second subtitle, there is an explanation of the approach used in this study. The procedure of analyzing the
work is explained in the method of the study.
A. Object of the Study
This study deals with Conn Igguldens’sEmperor: The Gates ofRome.The book was first published in Great Britain in 2003 by HarperCollins publisher. This
study uses the paperback edition of the publication of the book in 2003, which has 591 pages and 35 chapters.
The book is the first book of Conn Iggulden’s historical fiction series. The Emperor it self has 4 series. The three following series areEmperor: The Death of Kings published in 2004, Emperor: The Field of Swords published in 2004, and Emperor: The Gods of Warpublished in 2007.
The Emperor series although those are Iggulden’s first novels have gone
The story of Emperor: The Gates of Romeis about the early life of Gaius Julius Caesar, one of the Roman’s very famous leader. In the beginning of the
story the author describes about the young Gaius daily live in his father’ estate. The story also tells about Gaius’ problems with his neighbor and his interaction
with some other characters such as Marcus, his best friend, Tubruk, the estate overseer. Then how he meets his fighting trainer and the process of hard training is also described vividly in the story. Finally the story flows into tragedy when
Gaius’ father killed by rebellion slaves and how he struggles to run his father’s estate though he is seventeen years old. The tragedy of his father dead leads into
Gaius’ real adventures into the real world. He enters the political world only several months after the dead of his father. His uncle Marius holds an important point as the guider of Gaius in the new World. Marius Himself is a Consul, the
highest position in Rome at that time. It has the absolute power, the administrative power conferring command of the army and the interpretation and execution of
the law. Or other words it can be said as the president of Roman Empire.
Though as a democracy nation Rome knows that absolute power on one man can bring the nation into a monarchy. Therefore they elect two consuls in
every Year. Each Consul can block each other when discussing a problem in senate congress and each consul should respect one another because they have
famous thus several countries such as Russia adopt it for Tsar, German for Kaiser and indeed Indonesia as Kaisar. Those names mean king or conqueror or ruler.
B. Approach of the Study
Dealing with this study, the sociocultural-historical approach is applied. Since this approach tries to place the real work in reference to the civilization that produced it, it is necessary to investigate the social environment in which a work
was created and which it necessarily reflects (Rohrberger and Woods, 1971: 9-10). This approach is considered suitable to be applied because it shows that the
creation of literary work is embodied within the culture that produced it, so that the work becomes a reflection of and a commentary on social realities. In brief, the sociocultural-historical approach sees literary work as a reflection of
civilization.
C. Method of the Study
This study uses library research, since many data and theories are collected from some books. Conn Igguldens’sEmperor: The Gates of Rome is the primary source of the study. The secondary sources are the books and the Internet online references. The theories of literature and its elements applied in this study are
The approach is taken from M. H Abram’s Rohrberger and Wood’s Reading and Writing about Literature. Some data are also taken from online references, such as from <http:// www.brothersjudd.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/>, <reviews.detail/book_id/1494/>, <http://www.amazon.co.uk>, and <http://www.
ebay.com> for the references for the review of related studies. Review for social condition of Rome is taken from <http://roman-empire.net>.
In analyzing the work, there are some steps taken. Firstly, the book was
read and reread in order to get a better understanding of the story. Secondly, the plot and the setting were identified. When it had already identified, the democracy
38
This chapter covers three main parts, which are aimed to answer the
problems. First, it talks about the democracy depicted in the story. Second, this chapter will also explain how the war pictured. The last, it will give an analysis on how the corrupted system of the democracy can be the source of the war.
A. Democracy Depicted in the Novel Seen through the Plot and the Setting
1. Democracy Depicted in the Novel Seen through the Plot
According to Kennedy and Gioia’s Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, plot can be divided into three parts; it is the beginning, the middle, and the end. The initial statement of the conflict is stated in the beginning and called as the exposition. The middle comes from the rising conflicts to the
climax. After climax, there will be a crisis to a denouement in which the resolution is stated in the end (Kennedy and Gioia, 1999: 14-19). In order to know the democracy depicted in the novel, formerly this study should discuss the plot of
the story. From the plot, the democracy later can be pictured.
a. The Exposition
The story starts with Caesar’s early life in his estate. He has such peaceful life at that time. It is also told how his father’s job is and the early actions telling
by his father as the Senator are pictured. Moreover, the social classes in Roman society can be identified: Patricians, Plebeians, and Slave. Each class has its own
way of life. They have their own tradition, civil right, status in the society, power and wealth.
i. Patricians
The Patricians here in the novel are the same with the Patricians in the real
life. They are the highest class of all. The right to be a member of Patrician family is hereditary. In other words, it is for highborn person. Every head of a Patrician
family can join the Senate. It does not mean that every Patrician man can be a Senator after he is married. Only the head of the family has the right. In this novel, in the Julius family, the one that can be the senator is the older person of the
family or the head of the family, except the person retires from the Senate. However, it does not happen all the time. For a family that has many sons, they
can promote their sons into the Senate, if they have power or position in the Senate. The position such as Consul can do this action. Therefore, almost every Patrician is a Senate member.
“What is the vote about?” Gaius Asked.
Marius laughed. “A simple matter of officially accepting you into the ranks of nobilitas and adulthood. In truth it is only formality. You have the right trough your father, or, indeed, my sponsorship would do it… (Iggulden, 2003: 294).
overseer. He is indeed has almost a whole control to the estate, including, the cash flow. Estate advancement therefore will be the responsibility of the overseer.
Tubruk stepped into the yellow light of the lamps and leaned forward. He was a powerfully built ex-gladiator, who’d bought the position of overseer to the small estate outside Rome and never looked back. Gaius’ father said he was one in thousand for organizing talent. The slaves worked well under him, some from fear and some from liking. He sniffed at the two young boys (2003: 11).
Caesar’s father as one of the Patrician has shown how to deal with his
client and has thought his child about the rights and duty of the clients. When he takes his child Gaius and his friend, Marcus into a gladiator fight, two people
meet them in the middle of the show. They are his clients, and they give him information, and for return he gives them some money (2003: 295).
ii. Plebeians
Another class of people exists in the novel are the plebeians. Plebeians
work in middle segment of the society. They work as military officers, craftsmen, merchants, and other common people’s jobs. Some of them are positioned in the senate as well. Some others work as clients and politician in the same time.
"Who were those men, Father?" Gaius asked, intrigued. "Clients of mine. I have a few bound to me in the city," Julius replied, skinning his orange neatly (Iggulden, 2003: 295).
The clients will provide the information and other help for their boss in return for money or protection. All clients are Plebeians but not all Plebeians are clients.
iii. Slave
The lowest class in the society is the slave. As all people know, slave does
not have any rights. Nevertheless, what the novel says about the slavery is not exactly the same. It seems that the slave in the novel has several rights. First is the right to free him or herself, by buying him or herself from the owner.
“I could free you,” He whispered, in pain. Nothing seemed to make sense. Her eyes flashed in anger, quickly controlled. ‘No, you couldn’t. Oh you could take my pride and sign me free by Roman law, but I would have earned it in your bed. I am free where it matters, Gaius. I realize that now. To be free citizen in law, I must work honestly to buy myself back. Then I am my own (Iggulden, 2003: 407).
By working hard and honest, they can collect money, and when the money
is enough they can buy themselves a freedom. Then they will enter the Plebeian class. The second right is the right to have a gathering. The slaves can make their
own meeting and organize other slaves. The result of this gathering right, it can be seen from the plot that they make a riot and it causes a lot of damage to the city (2003:164). In the future, the right of gathering is abolished.
This exposition is closed by the riot of the slaves as the form of dissatisfaction towards the social system and the government at that time. The riot
governmental system as well as the security system. Even, the riot is becoming worse. It also happens outside the town and to Caesar’s estate. The slave group
that plans to break in Gaius’ estate is blocked by the fight back from the estate. Caesar’s father gathers all of his slaves and workers to fight back. Unfortunately,
he is killed at the fighting. From this point, the story rises to the conflicts.
b. The Rising Conflicts
After his father’s death, Caesar, as the only son, has to take over all of his father’s duty. As soon as he finishes managing the work distribution in his estate,
Caesar goes to the town, where he is going to enter the government of Rome, taking over his father’s duty as a Senator. There he meets his uncle that is a Consul as well as one of the highest Generals in Rome.
Next, he meets many events that automatically means he has to face more complicated conflicts, such as the conflicts between two biggest government sides
in Rome: Marius and Sula. The political conflicts between them give such obvious picture how the democracy is done in Roman government. For example, in the free election to formulate the nation policy and in the way how to solve
somebody’s claims on his or her rights.
However, the conflicts are getting hard when there is another riot in
Greece. It forces one of the Generals to get into the war. However, both Generals, Marius and Sula, do not want to get into the war. Therefore, all of their ways and intelligence are formed so that they do not need to go into the war. They have
rule the entire Rome. With all his smart tricks and strategies, Marius is able to bribe all the Senate members although Sula has done it first. It makes Marius can
rule the town of Rome and Sula has to go to the war in force to calm the riots in Greece.
Marius tries to make a fortress in Rome since he has a thought that Sula will come back and attack his own town. The fortress is being built while the army is being trained and the facilities are being prepared. When Sula gets back
from the war, he has prepared a plan to attack Rome. Another war is happened. Marius plans to hold the war so that it will not go into the town and harm the
civilians. c. The Climax
The war that was predicted to be a big war and takes a long time to end
proved to be a short one because of Sula’s strategy to use a camouflage and to catch Marius. When Marius gets caught, Sula asks him to stop his army. Sula
promises to give mercy and to guarantee the safety of all Marius’ army and their families, including Marius’ family. However, instead of commanding his army to stop the war, Marius orders his army to keep fighting until the end. Finally,
Marius is killed. Here is the climax. The war happens only in several days. All of Marius’ army, that have lost their leader, are easily arrested and killed afterwards.
When Marius gets killed, all of his family and followers are in danger. His wife commits suicide, most of his army are killed, and most of his followers are
arrested and sentenced to death by Sula. Caesar is arrested as well, but he is not sentenced to death. Sula releases Caesar, believing that Caesar will be such fair
opponent for him in the future. Furthermore, it makes him satisfied because he thinks that he may have such new challenge.
2. Democracy Depicted in the Novel Seen through the Setting
Based on Holman and Harmon’s explanation in their A Handbook to Literature,the setting is considered as the environment of the events in the story and the immediate world in which they occur. Therefore, in order to get the picture of the democracy in the novel, the study should reveal the forms of
democracy that are shown in the novel through the setting. By seeing the environment of the events in the story and the immediate world in which they
occur, that is the situation of Consul and Senate’s life as well as the Forums, these forms are revealed:
a. Freedom of Expression
Like in other nations, aristocrat family always has a lot more rights than other people in a society. It can be seen from the setting that Roman aristocrat
family indeed has the same case. In particular for those who have rank in Senate or in the military. In Senate, the aristocrat family has the power to choose some of the officers of Rome. They have rights to speak in forum or in the Senate.
counted. The rest will stand up when they hear the second name. No man may abstain in such a vote on the security of the city. Are we all agreed?” The three hundred senators murmured their assent solemnly and Sulla smiled. Gaius felt fear touch him. Sulla paused for long moment, clearly enjoying the tension. At last he spoke one word into the silence (Iggulden, 2003:324).
The Plebeian people, at the same time, also have the right to speak, to vote and to express their idea. If the Plebeian is a Senator or client of the Patrician
family, they can be involved in a Senate voting to vote special issues. However, if they are ordinary people, they can have their opinion expressed in a place named Forum, which every free man can express their idea and opinion as well as bring
their problems to be heard by the Senate. Almost everybody who has problem related to law or government can bring the problem to the Forum.
Hundreds of people were filling the forum from every direction, and jeers and calls could be heard echoing in the nearby streets. They are all watched Marius and his men and they left an avenue to the Senate, knowing his destination without having to be told (2003:248).
In the novel, the Slave does not have any rights. Therefore, they cannot
vote or elect their representatives and their leaders. They are not allowed to express their opinion and idea. The limitations of slave’s rights agitate them. Through the plot it is clear that it is the major factor that creates the riot in the
novel.
In the novel, only certain classes of people have their rights to access freedom of expression. The Patrician as the highest class has much more freedom
to express and to influence their leader or officer that elected. They have access in almost all places that can provide freedom of expression, such as Forum and
Senate. On the other hand, the Plebeians can have freedom to express their will with some limitation. They do not have much influence in the Senate, and if they are clients to some Patrician family, they have to obey the order of their master.
They have to express what their master’s will is, not their own will. The last class of the Romans is the worst. It does not have any rights. Their voice cannot be
counted in the election as well as their ideas are ignored because they are not a free man.
b. Free Elections
The right to elect freely does not belong to all classes of Rome. In the
novel, only Patricians and some of Plebeians are free to elect their leader. Most of people who can elect freely are people with power and money, especially the Senators and their clients. The right to elect freely, in other words, means that they
are free from forces or bribes. However, in the novel, when Gaius tries to enter the Senate, he feels worry that some of the Senators will vote to reject him, but
force. In other parts of the story, when Marius has won the election, he said that he is the poorest General of Rome. The vote is won because of the bribes.
“What happens now? Do we go back to your house?”
Marius smiled a little sadly in response. “No. I had to sell it for the bribes-Sulla was already bribing them, you see, and I had to double his offers in most cases. It took everything I own, except my horse, my sword and my armor. I may be the first penniless general Rome ever had.” He laughed quietly (2003: 330).
c. Majority Rule and Minority Rights
In the novel, the decisions are made according to the majority rule. The vote happens in the Senate, for example, always follows this rule. The major voice
will win, but it will not abandon the minority rights. Though the vote is loaded by the bribes, but the entire Senator will accept the result gently and fairly. The winner will not abandon the rights of the loose voter in the next vote. Even in
important vote such as the vote to choose the Consul that will fight the Greek enemy, the result is accepted gently by the looser. It can be clearly seen when
Sulla looses the vote. Even though he loses the vote, he still greets all the senate after the vote and goes out the senate room gently. Although he knows that his rival will have a huge advantage from this vote (Iggulden, 2003: 325).
Furthermore, it happens almost in all votes on the novel.
d. Political Parties
There are no notes that show political parties in the novel. Senator can easily change their decision or opinion privately. All decisions are based on their
the same thought and vision. It is totally individual. The
