The Public Persona of Gaius Gracchus: Rhetoric, Legislation, and Precedent

Author

Coleman Smith, College of the Holy Cross

Date of Creation

5-8-2023

Document Type

Campus Access Only

First Advisor

Dominic Machado

Abstract

This thesis is about the life and times of Gaius Sempronius Gracchus. It is inspired by the work of modern scholars concerned with reevaluating the strategies and motivations of the least understood politicians of the First Century B.C. I consider the latest works of this genre concerning Gaius Gracchus outdated. This thesis aims to illustrate the “real” Gaius Gracchus–he certainly knew how to curate and cultivate a public persona, but I attempt also to demonstrate that his actions prove that his public persona was not far off from his genuine personality.

Comments

Reader: Liat Spiro

Recommended Citation

Smith, Coleman, "The Public Persona of Gaius Gracchus: Rhetoric, Legislation, and Precedent" (2023). College Honors Program. 90.
https://crossworks.holycross.edu/honors/90