“For Want of the Usual Manure”: Rural Civic Ethos in Ciceronian Rhetoric

Abstract

This essay examines the role of rural citizens in the social fabric of ancient Italy and the redefinition of the rural by the mightiest orator of that time: Marcus Tullius Cicero. This redefinition created a novel form of ethos, a rural civic ethos, apparent in the valuing of Arpinum in The Laws and in the rural character of Sextus Roscius in Pro Sextus Roscius. Rural civic ethos is further developed through an analysis of Cicero's dual identity as rustic and urbane, trained according to the oratorical style of the city yet maintaining an allegiance to the landscapes and peoples of Arpinum.

Notes

1 I thank RR reviewers Richard Enos and Edward Schiappa for their generosity of time and the quality of their constructive feedback in their review of this article. My work is better for their involvement.