As a prosecutor, Cicero’s main job was to attack the character of the accused, which was usually accomplished through making jests at their lives, and more specifically their sexual escapades. In his prosecution of ex-Sicilian governor, Verres, and politician, Antony, Cicero focuses on how these men were extremely lustful. Due to these urges, they essentially lacked control over their bodies, a trait which the Romans disapproved. In his prosecution of Verres, Cicero notes how he was “a woman among men.” Cicero implies that Verres was penetrated by others, and therefore attacks Verres’ manhood. In his prosecution of noblewoman Clodia, Cicero’s berates Clodia for essentially being free with her body, and in control of her own life. Romans believed women should not be “voracious” for this out of control nature “would spread through all registers of society—social, economic, cultural, military—and destroy the boundaries by which that society defines itself”. In all, Ormand notes that in Cicero’s accusations, he believes Clodia is acting more like a man in society; but as a woman in Rome, her freedom and sexual promiscuity is a factor that could destroy the very fabric of Roman
As a prosecutor, Cicero’s main job was to attack the character of the accused, which was usually accomplished through making jests at their lives, and more specifically their sexual escapades. In his prosecution of ex-Sicilian governor, Verres, and politician, Antony, Cicero focuses on how these men were extremely lustful. Due to these urges, they essentially lacked control over their bodies, a trait which the Romans disapproved. In his prosecution of Verres, Cicero notes how he was “a woman among men.” Cicero implies that Verres was penetrated by others, and therefore attacks Verres’ manhood. In his prosecution of noblewoman Clodia, Cicero’s berates Clodia for essentially being free with her body, and in control of her own life. Romans believed women should not be “voracious” for this out of control nature “would spread through all registers of society—social, economic, cultural, military—and destroy the boundaries by which that society defines itself”. In all, Ormand notes that in Cicero’s accusations, he believes Clodia is acting more like a man in society; but as a woman in Rome, her freedom and sexual promiscuity is a factor that could destroy the very fabric of Roman