“The roles and status allocated to males or females can be
central to understanding the cultural context of a text.”
Show how this statement might apply to one
text on your comparative course. In your answer
you may refer to the roles and status allocated to either males or females, or
both.
Pompeii – Robert Harris
Men
1 Ampliatus
Rich
Former slave ***
Undisputed head of household
2 Attilius
Manual worker (but educated / skilled) – lowers status
Should have been head of household
Given choice between wife / son – their lives were his to decide
Doesn’t look very strong – men don’t respect him as a result
3 Pliny
Top tier of social hierarchy
Highly educated, published author, authority on wide variety of topics
Physically damaged (grossly overweight)
Commander of navy – can order all boats out to sail at the volcano
Women
1 Corelia
Has been promised in marriage to a much older but highly respected patrician – viewed as property that can be sold to make a profit
Has been educated – is literate. Unusual but not unheard of (wife of Pedius Cascus, Rectina)
When educated, women seemed to develop a greater confidence and self-assurance – not always a welcome thing!
Even Ampliatus acknowledged that Corelia would have been a better son than his actual son – women always inferior
2 Atia
Lowest of the low – old, female and a slave.
Essentially without use or value
Beaten and left outside gate to die
Has nothing to fall back on
Incredibly human – distraught at the treatment of her son
Viewed her role as mother with utmost seriousness (even though her son was Ampliatus’
property)
Ampliatus’ wife
Submissive
Acquiesces to the role ascribed to her by Roman society –submits to her husband’s will in all things
Leaves the killing of the slave without protest (whereas Corelia is hugely affected)
Does not display any intelligence or independent action (but we know some wives do – Rectina)
Probably living in fear – Ampliatus would have been entitled to beat her
Excellent mother – very devoted to her children
Possible reason for the son’s femininity / kinder demeanour than his father
Structure / points “In this world…”
1 Physical prowess in men is
valued
Attilius
Pliny
But – similar traits in women are only valued in
slaves
Atia
Corelia
2 Women viewed as property
Corelia
Atia
Ampliatus’ wife
3 Men expected to be masculine in all
things
Ampliatus’ son –
Celsinus
4 Social status you’re born into is more important than wealth
acquired
Ampliatus
Man is always head of
household
Ampliatus
Attilius
central to understanding the cultural context of a text.”
Show how this statement might apply to one
text on your comparative course. In your answer
you may refer to the roles and status allocated to either males or females, or
both.
Pompeii – Robert Harris
Men
1 Ampliatus
Rich
Former slave ***
Undisputed head of household
2 Attilius
Manual worker (but educated / skilled) – lowers status
Should have been head of household
Given choice between wife / son – their lives were his to decide
Doesn’t look very strong – men don’t respect him as a result
3 Pliny
Top tier of social hierarchy
Highly educated, published author, authority on wide variety of topics
Physically damaged (grossly overweight)
Commander of navy – can order all boats out to sail at the volcano
Women
1 Corelia
Has been promised in marriage to a much older but highly respected patrician – viewed as property that can be sold to make a profit
Has been educated – is literate. Unusual but not unheard of (wife of Pedius Cascus, Rectina)
When educated, women seemed to develop a greater confidence and self-assurance – not always a welcome thing!
Even Ampliatus acknowledged that Corelia would have been a better son than his actual son – women always inferior
2 Atia
Lowest of the low – old, female and a slave.
Essentially without use or value
Beaten and left outside gate to die
Has nothing to fall back on
Incredibly human – distraught at the treatment of her son
Viewed her role as mother with utmost seriousness (even though her son was Ampliatus’
property)
Ampliatus’ wife
Submissive
Acquiesces to the role ascribed to her by Roman society –submits to her husband’s will in all things
Leaves the killing of the slave without protest (whereas Corelia is hugely affected)
Does not display any intelligence or independent action (but we know some wives do – Rectina)
Probably living in fear – Ampliatus would have been entitled to beat her
Excellent mother – very devoted to her children
Possible reason for the son’s femininity / kinder demeanour than his father
Structure / points “In this world…”
1 Physical prowess in men is
valued
Attilius
Pliny
But – similar traits in women are only valued in
slaves
Atia
Corelia
2 Women viewed as property
Corelia
Atia
Ampliatus’ wife
3 Men expected to be masculine in all
things
Ampliatus’ son –
Celsinus
4 Social status you’re born into is more important than wealth
acquired
Ampliatus
Man is always head of
household
Ampliatus
Attilius