In Class Writing Rough Draft

            Stoicism is the ability to endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control one’s emotions; Seneca, at his death, was a perfect example of a stoic. When someone reads Tacitus’ description of the Death of Seneca, the author described details of the emperors’ lives, but he also writes about the examples of stoicism.

            Tacitus described the stoicism in Seneca by giving examples. He talked about how Seneca appeared in public and how he talked and approached people. He said, “…he saw no signs of fear, and perceived no sadness in his words or in his looks.” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/tacitus-ann15a.html). This quotation is basically the definition of stoicism. Seneca did not show fear and he never looked sad when he was talking or writing. Seneca was a strong man who did not vocalize his emotions.

            The Death of Seneca continued with more description of the emperor, which gave the reader more examples of stoicism. Tacitus wrote, “He had no reason," he said, “for preferring the interest of any private citizen to his own safety, and he had no natural aptitude for flattery…” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/tacitus-ann15a.html).  This describes Seneca’s control of emotions and feelings. He did not have to take concern himself with citizen. He also did not have to give compliments or gratitude. Being able to control these feelings is what made Seneca a stoic.

            Tacitus continued about Seneca and how he dealt with this almost unlimited wealth and power. He said, “So he had directed in a codicil of his will, when even in the height of his wealth and power he was thinking of his life's close.” (http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ancient/tacitus-ann15a.html). When Seneca was on the brink of death, he did not care about how much money or power he had control of, in reality, he was thinking about the end of his life. Seneca was a stoic because of example like this one. He was not concerned with his power; he kept those emotions and values hidden. He was thinking of one important thing: his life.

            In Tacitus’ Death of Seneca, he described this emperor as being a stoic. He wrote about how Seneca controlled his emotions and feelings around common people. He also described how he dealt with his own wealth and power. He finally describes how Seneca was only concerned with his death at the end. Seneca, the emperor, was a stoic. He had power, but he controlled his feelings.