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In
Roman society it was possible for a slave to be richer and more powerful
than many free citizens.
But the Roman poet Juvenal wrote in his famous 10th Satire, the penniless
traveller
'serene
and gay,
walks the wild Heath and sings his toil away'
while the rich man...
'…fears in dire vicissitude invade,
The Rustling Brake alarms, and quiv'ring Shade,
Nor Light nor Darkness bring his Pain Relief,
One shews the Plunder, and one hides the thief'
(translated by Samuel Johnson in The Vanity of Human Wishes)
Pupils
might like to explore this paradox - perhaps writing their own version
of Juvenal's Satire e.g.
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The
richer you are, the more burglar alarms, security guards and electronic
fences you need. |
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The
more food you have, the more unhealthy you may grow. |
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The
more money you have in the bank, the less you can trust that people
love you for who you are, rather than for what you own (film and music
celebrities are good examples to use here). |
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