Who Is Pliny The Younger

At the beginning of Pliny the Younger’s letter to Tacitus, he mentions his intention is to tell the story of his uncle’s death so Tacitus can more truthfully relay it:“nam video morti eius si celebretur a te immortalem gloriam esse propositam”. Pliny believes if Tacitus celebrates Pliny the Elder, then future generations will celebrate it as well and his legacy will live on. When composing his letter, Pliny the Younger paints his uncle’s journey as an impossible mission to save others. Pliny the Younger describes his uncle as a hero, one who can stay calm under pressure and never gives into fear. To retell the story of Vesuvius and bring his uncle recognition, Pliny the Younger highlights Pliny the Elder’s admirable qualities. Pliny the Younger
The Romans never saw anything like the eruption. As Pliny’s mother points out, the clouds were unusual in both size and appearance. Before Vesuvius, no natural event had ever occurred in a similar manner. So, when dealing with the unknown crisis people hurried to flee. Throughout the letter, Pliny uses asyndeton to stress how rapid the events were. Additionally, by using asyndeton, he also was able to depict Pliny the Elder’s decisiveness and quick responses to problems. When his uncle arrives at the shore, he embraces, advises, and encourages Pomponianus in order to calm him with his composure.“Quo tunc avunculus meus secundissimo invectus complectitiur trepidantem, consolatur, hortatur, utque timoem eius sua secutitate leniret.” This use of asyndeton features Pliny’s stoic nature. The word show instead of panicking, Pliny the Elder focuses on moving forward quickly fixing everything in his power. How Pliny describes his uncle’s calmness in crisis proves that he was the perfect stoic Roman, and acted
The text says when journeying to Stabiae, Pliny was hurrying to the place, from which others were feeling. “Properat illuc, unde alii fugiunt”. Pliny the Younger deliberately uses chiasmus here to juxtapose Pliny the Elder’s bravery and others fear. Pliny the Younger uses chiasmus again later describing the events after his uncle arrived in Stabiae. Before they escape the rising pumice and ash, Pliny makes a calculated decision to avoid danger, risking getting hit by a stone because it was safer than remaining inside. However, others did not think instead, their fear drove them to stay. “Et apud illum quidem ratio rationem, apud alios timorem timor vicit.” Pliny ensures that his uncle’s courage is clear in order to present him well in the letter. By belittling others, he further accentuates the difference between Pliny the Elder’s bravery and others fear. Because fright controlled others, Pliny appears stronger and braver than most, and deserving of