Words as Weapons: Political Violence as Rhetoric in the Roman Republic and the Modern United States

Abstract

Marcus Tullius Cicero was one of Rome’s most prolific orators and politicians. His speeches have stood the test of time for their rhetorical expertise and detailed insights into Roman politics. Cicero often employed aggressive rhetoric when speaking about his political opponents to better make his point. This violent rhetoric justified harm and demonized his opponents, turning politicians in different political parties into enemies of the state as a whole. We will look at two speeches in which Cicero uses violent political rhetoric. First, his first oration against Catiline regarding the Catilinarian Conspiracy will show us how Cicero’s words resulted in the exile of a supposed traitor, despite Catiline not receiving due process for this accusation. Second, we will analyze the Pro Milone, Cicero’s defense of Titus Annius Milo. In this speech, we will see how Cicero justifies the murder of Publius Clodius Pulcher and characterizes him as an enemy of the state. Using violent rhetoric to attack political opponents like Cicero did is a tactic that has been becoming more common in recent American politics. Over the last decade, violent political rhetoric has increased in usage between both Democrats and Republicans. In some cases, it has even incited physical violence against the government. We will analyze these parallels and the effect that violent rhetoric has on the functioning of democracy.