OBITUARIES IN TACITUS’ ANNALS

Abstract

In his historical narratives, Tacitus includes obituaries of a few prominent individuals in Roman society. This thesis focuses on those obituaries which are found in the Annals. It will analyse how they function as a literary device and how they are applied to the narrative. Chapter one discusses the possible origins or influences of the obituary. It looks at the contributions of the annales maximi (annals of the Pontifex Maximus), the laudatio funebris (Roman funeral speech), and the character sketch may have made to the obituary’s form, content, and purpose. Chapter two considers how the obituary is placed within the annalistic framework. It will compare Tacitus’ placement of obituaries to their traditional position. How Tacitus differs from Livy will be discussed also to show further aspects of his style. Chapter three will examine the composition and structure of Tacitean obituaries. It will determine typical remarks which Tacitus makes about an individual. Then it will consider the rhetorical nature of those remarks. Chapter four discusses how Tacitus uses the obituary to advance themes in the Annals. It will also consider the effectiveness of the obituary in completing this task. Chapter five will consider how Tacitus treats women by analysing the obituaries of two imperial ladies.