Petronius’s Satyricon: Trimalchio and Encolpius Essay

Satyricon is a unique literary work which is a combination of first-person archives and tales encompassing the lives of even the ordinary Greek people. Gaius Petronius wrote it round 61 AD inspired by the lavish flavourstyle in Rome, literature, art, and self-expression, vulgar demoralize of wealthiness, pretension, and religious fanaticism depicting Nero in some parts of the unexampled (Wilson, 2007). Tacitus, a famous historian, was the main source of Petronius life.Petronius worked as a consul during Neros reign. He is k directn as the Arbiter which means judge of politeness whom Emperor Nero often consults about matters regarding luxury, extravagance, art and literature. However, a rival got overjealous over who acc apply him of treason. In response, Petronius committed suicide instead of be executed (Ruden, 2000). Petronius wide experience on literature and arts allowed to seek write a sophisticated book about the people in different ranks.Satyricon main characters inc lude (1) Encolpius, who is the narrator (2) Trimalchio, a slave (3) Agamemnon , teacher of Encolpius and (4) Fortunata, the wife of Trimalchio (Dinner with Trimalchio from the Satyricon,). Encolpius is very clever and adventurous man who is alike a student of rhetoric who composes and delivers speeches. Encolpius was cursed by the phallic god, Priapus, to be impotent and he travels all along with his friends Giton and Ascyltos just to find a cure. Ascyltos, a young and gay, is also a student of rhetoric.Giton, on the an some other(prenominal) reach out, is a slave who accompanied them throughout their journey. Along their travel, they a met a poet named Eumolpus whom they met on the road and decided to travel with them also (Sergius, 2005). They traveled to Campania, a Greek town and delivered a speech there about his disfavour on the prevailing literature. He said accused the prop geniusnts of declamatory precept as the root. However, Agamemnon who is a declaimer, blame in on t he p arents instead. His friend Ascyltos on the other hand, left in escape from Agamemnon.More disputes has happened, but one of the most significant events in on the novel is the Dinner with Trimalchio. Trimalchio used to be a slave but because of his perseverance, he was able to freed himself and deliver the goods wealth and power at the same time. The foursome happens to be invited by Trimalchio and his wife, Fortunata, on a lavish dinner that they never imagined. Aside from the Encolpius and his friends, full(prenominal) ranking people are also invited such as the rich, lawyers, traders, merchants, and other free men.Trimalchios house, as described by Encolpius, is very striking especially the wall paintings of a watch dog whom Encolpius thought was realistic painting of the Trimalchios life Iliad and Odyssey and gladiatorial combat (Wilson, 2007). Encolpius is fascinated by all the wall paintings saying that, There was no time in which to examine them all. Trimalchio is fas hioned with napkin with purple border, his left hand wearing rings one of pure gold with iron stars around it, a golden arm-band on his right arm, and a bracelet feisty of ivory.Trimalchio is described as a senator and equestrian fanatic. Trimalchio believes in some superstition such as right foot forward first, preoccupation with remainder and zodiac dish. Each zodiac is represented with a specific dish such as ram on Aries, beef on Taurus, kidneys on Gemini, crown on cancer, sows womb on Virgo, African fig on Leo, balance on Libra, seafish on Scorpio, bulls eye on Saguitarrius, lobster on Capricorn, goose on Aquarius and mullet on Pisces (Gill, 2007). Encolpius asked a consideration and learned more of the how wealthy Trimalchio is.Trimalchio purchased expensive wool, pitch, pepper, rams, bees from Attica and other selects of things he bought. His wealth continues to increase and is clever enough to conceal if his business goes bankrupt by announcing an auction. Throughout the dinner, Trimalchio try to discuss and boast all about his life and how he got the wealth he is enjoying. He is implying that he used to cede nothing at all but despite of that, he is now richer and powerful. He entertains hi guest with extravagant dishes and exhibitions, the way he enured his slaves and his pretence of education (Gill, 2007).When Trimalchio excused himself to the toilet, the freedmen soon discussed about different sort of things such as weather, public games, education of their children, and the problems they encounter. After Trimalchio finished, he continues to joyousness them with more dishes. Stories are told about witches, and werewolf. Another guest came, a stonesmason named Habinnas, with his wife and chat with Trimalchios wife about their jewelries. However, Encolpius and his friends are getting bore and irritated and tried to leave the dinner.The foursome are prevented to escape by a servant but after hearing a laboured of horns when Trimalchio tried to portray his funeral, they escaped (Gill, 2007). More adventures followed as the foursome tried to escape by the sea. The setting of the dinner is speculated to have happened either in Naples or Pompeii. Petronius tells about freedman and it is assumed that most of the freedmen in Satyricon are Greek or Macedonian slaves who have learned Latin without receiving whatever proper education (Sergius, 2005).