Date of Award

Summer 2025

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Department

English Language and Literatures

First Advisor

Andrew Shifflett

Abstract

Thomas May’s A Continuation of the Subiect of Lucan's Historicall Poem till the Death of Iulius Cæser, continues Lucan’s creative vision of critiquing heroism. Despite his attempt at maintaining an indifferent world, May’s Continuation implicitly favors the heroism of the Pompeians.

Both Caesar and the Pompeians base their heroic conceptions on ideals found in Greek and Roman marital and national heroism. Caesar and his enemies believe that his victories in battle result from Fortune’s protection and approval, allowing Caesar to justify the ideals of traditional heroism. However, Fortune in the Continuation acts as an independent force, making these misinterpretations of Caesar’s victories. Caesar bolsters the values of traditional heroism through his reign over Rome, implying that tyrants promote these traditional values to justify their rule.

Initially, the Pompeians attempt to uphold the values of the Roman values of civic duty and stoicism, differentiating themselves from Caesar. Through misfortune, they discover that although Roman conceptions of heroism critique their Greek counterparts, their quest to oppose Caesar implicitly values marital conquest, honor, and glory. Their states of misfortune allow the Pompeians to understand the error within traditional conceptions of heroism and create an alternative model of heroism removed from the glory of martial conquest, reflecting the Neoplatonism of the time.

Rights

© 2025, Michael Blake Hoehn

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