Seneca on the Death of M. Livius Drusus (De brevitate vitae 6.1-2)

Abstract

Abstract The account of M. Livius Drusus in Seneca’s dialogue De brevitate vitae significantly departs from other versions by suggesting that Drusus’ death may have been a suicide rather than an assassination. The inspiration for Seneca’s reworking of the scene lies with Stoicism’s expectations for choosing and implementing suicide. Drusus’ role in the dialogue is to provide a cautionary illustration of the problems of neglecting true otium and the philosophical pursuits it entails. Seneca portrays Drusus disregarding Stoic conventions for suicide in order to reinforce his broader philosophical failings. The author therefore significantly breaks with historiographical tradition in order to make a more effective philosophical argument.