Martial: A Social Guide

Both the significance and purpose of Martial's poetry have often been misinterpreted or missed altogether because of the particular literary and social background that inform his poetry. Literary histories have given the impression that Martial wrote unobjectionably trivial poems solely to cull favour from patrons; they also suggest that he had little to say that was serious. In contrast, this book argues that Martial, through his poetry, played a serious and vital role in his community as a social guide or conscience. The book's unique approach to Martial places him within the reactionary tradition of Indo-European blame/praise poetry. Poets in this tradition served a vital function: in reaction to the perceived deterioration of the behaviour and conditions of their day, they either praised ideal behaviour, or, more commonly, ridiculed socially aberrant and destructive behaviour. By linking Martial with this particular tradition one is better able to understand and appreciate his themes and methods, and the effect of his poetry.