Agricola

Tacitus uses juxtaposition in several ways in “Agricola.” He juxtaposes the Roman republic with the Roman empire, noting, “Just as the Rome of old explored the limits of freedom, so have we plumed the depths of slavery” (55). Tacitus also juxtaposes Agricola’s integrity and discipline as Britannia’s governor with his predecessors’ lax disregard of abuses perpetrated among the Roman troops: “By checking these abuses in his very first year of office, Agricola gave men reason to love and honor peace, which, through the negligence or arrogance of former governors, had been as much feared as war” (66).

Further, Tacitus repeatedly employs juxtaposition at the sentence level to emphasize Agricola’s virtues. He writes that Agricola “praised the keen and scolded the slack” to draw attention to his good judgment, which enabled him to discern what was needed in any situation (66). Another example, in Chapter 9, emphasizes Agricola’s unique disinterest in acclaim: “Although the desire for fame is often a secret weakness even of the good, Agricola never courted it by advertisement or intrigue” (58)

Finally, Tacitus inverts the traditional function of juxtaposition, showing that similarities exist between two things that should be different. Early in the essay, he notes the vices that flourished under Domitian, noting that “[i]dleness gradually becomes sweet, and we end by loving the sloth that at first we loathed” (55). Later, when he describes the Britanni people who became inured to Roman colonization, he writes, “And so they strayed into the enticements of vice—porticoes, baths and sumptuous banquets. In their innocence they called this ‘civilization’, when in fact it was part of their enslavement” (66). For Tacitus, the condition of Roman citizens and conquered people should not be similar, yet both have been lured by vice to surrender their freedom. 

Throughout the essay, Tacitus uses Domitian as a foil to highlight Agricola’s integrity: Domitian’s vices throw into sharp relief Agricola’s virtues. While Domitian is jealous of others’ success and seeks always to be the center of attention, Agricola modestly executes his duties seeking no external reward. While Domitian cultivates secrecy and fear, Agricola promotes transparency and cooperation.

Though Tacitus tacitly endorses Roman expansion, he demonstrates his complex view of empire by using Caledonian leader Calgacus, who Tacitus describes as “outstanding in valour and family,” as a foil to highlight problematic aspects of empire (70). This is especially evident when Tacitus presents Calgacus’s speech in Chapters 30-32, in which he accuses Rome of robbing, butchering, and raping the Britanni people, among other grievances. Describing Calgacus in laudatory terms also demonstrates the extraordinary nature of Agricola’s success: his opponents were motivated and brave warriors, formidable opponents that Agricola bested due to his own extraordinary qualities.

While the obvious purpose of “Agricola” is for Tacitus to create a lasting memorial for his respected father-in-law, the essay can also be understood as an allegory. By telling Agricola’s story, Tacitus demonstrates how to live with integrity and be a good man, even while living under a corrupt, tyrannical regime.  

Tacitus employs amplification throughout the essay, layering clauses to draw dramatic attention to his points, both about the vices of the empire and the virtues of Agricola.

An early example of the former comes in Chapter 2:

No doubt they believed that by that fire the voice of the Roman people, the freedom of the Senate and the moral consciousness of the human race were wiped out; even teachers of philosophy and all honourable studies were banished, so that nothing decent might be encountered anywhere (54).

His use of extreme language (“all,” “nothing”) and vivid detail highlight the dire conditions of Domitian’s reign.

An example of the latter, in Chapter 5, describes Agricola’s early career: “Instead, he got to know his province and be known by the army; he learned from the experts and followed the best models; he never sought a task for self-advertisement, never shifted one through cowardice” (56). Again, Tacitus’s use of extreme language (“never,” repeated) exalt Agricola as above reproach in everything he does.