The Character of Trimalchio in "The Satyricon": Putting Wealth and Appearance Before Substance in Ancient Rome.
This paper addresses Petronius' work, "Satyricon", in respect to the values of the Roman people that manifests in the characters and in the setting of this novel. Through examining the content of "The Satyricon", it can be concluded that the culture of ancient Rome was filled with individuals who prided themselves more on appearances than substance, where the characters in the "Satyricon" are willing to sacrifice their personal values in order to achieve greater levels of wealth and social prominence. This paper investigates the character of Trimalchio in order to demonstrate this thesis. 5 pgs, bibliography lists 1 source.
