Example research essay topic: Spiritual Beliefs Roman Empire - 1,162 words

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The Claudius Era, a record of the most scandalous time in history, took place during the 13 -year rein of Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus as Emperor of the Roman Empire. During this time of ambition and deception, there was a blatant lack of value for love. However, Romans did possess an obvious commitment to their spiritual beliefs. This aspect of the Roman culture is just one of the many that are portrayed in two novels set during this era, I, Claudius and Claudius the God, both by Robert Graves, The combination of both works tells a magnificent auto-biography. I, Claudius explores the life of Claudius before he became emperor and describes the development of his character as he overcame the scandals and murders of his family. Claudius the God depicts the life of Claudius as emperor and narrates his transformation from a fool to a god.

Both of these novels touch on the themes of ambition, deception, love, and spiritual beliefs. Both I, Claudius and Claudius the God depict the Roman times as an era of intrigue, lust, perversion and bloodshed. One aspect of the Roman culture that depicted the Roman times as an era of intrigue, lust, perversion and bloodshed was the Roman peoples ambition. This aspect of ambition is one of the themes portrayed in both I, Claudius and Claudius the God.

This theme can be observed through Livia and Claudius, the main characters of I, Claudius and Claudius the God respectively. Livia and Claudius both set particular goals for themselves. In I, Claudius, Livia aspired to become the First Lady of the Roman Empire. She was, at first, married to Drusus Nero. When Nero refused to take part in Livia's schemes to make him emperor (which would make Livia the First Lady), Livia divorced him. She then married Augustus, a man who was far more ambitious that Drusus, to increase her chances of a position in power as the Emperors wife.

In Claudius the God, Claudius also set certain goals, one of which was to construct Ostia. During Ostia's construction, Claudius perversely refused to listen to advice from engineers about the immense cost and time it would take to build Ostia. Claudius even tricked the Corn Ring into lending him a large sum of money to build Ostia. However, Ostia was merely one of Claudius aspirations; Claudius followed several other ambitions. To pursue his ambitions, Claudius studied and read to craft solutions and strategies. For example, during Romes war with Britain, Claudius led the Roman armies to a remarkable victory by studying old strategies, most by Julius Caesar.

He learned from mistakes of old battles and imitated good strategies. In I, Claudius, Livia also followed several ambitions. And to follow these several ambitions, Livia assassinated several people. For example, when she learned that Augustus was planning to proclaim Marcellus as his heir, she poisoned Marcellus and killed him. Livia poisoned him because she wanted her son, Tiberius, to become the next emperor. Livia intended, in the event of Augustus death, to continue ruling through her son.

Livia's ambition led her to plot against whom she saw as her enemies. For example, Livia was jealous of Julia so she gave Julia a potion that stimulated Julia's sexual appetite. This potion turned Julia into an adulterous monster. Livia did this so that when all of Rome soon came to know of her infidelities, she would be banished for life. However, in Claudius the God, Claudius ambition merely led him to make numerous death threats. For example, when Claudius wanted Posides to help him win the war against Britain, he threatened Posides with death if Posides would not fulfill his expectations and wants.

Claudius threatened that if Posides disappointed him, Posides would be thrown to the panthers in the amphitheatre. Hence, the theme of ambition is evidently present in I, Claudius and Claudius the God through the actions of Livia and Claudius, which also depict the Roman times as an era of intrigue and bloodshed. In addition to the theme of ambition, the theme of deception was also present in I, Claudius and Claudius the God. During the Roman times, the true natures of people were not always palpable. One would primarily have to discover ones true nature to get a clear perception of them.

For example, in I, Claudius, Livia's true nature was discovered when she divorced Drusus Nero and remarried Augustus. It was clear that her main intension was solely to ensure for herself a position in power (as the emperors wife). Also, in Claudius the God, Herod Agrippas true nature was discovered when he betrayed Claudius. Herod, who Claudius had trusted entirely, was scheming something behind Claudius back before Claudius left for Britain.

But because Claudius had a suspicion of this, Herod did not follow through with his scheme. The Roman times were so full of deception that one could not even trust their loved-ones, and Claudius was an example of this case. For instance, in I, Claudius, all of Rome saw Claudius mother as a very beautiful and respectable lady. People felt sorry for her because she had a responsibility to take care of Claudius, who was a cripple and was often sick.

People perceived her as respectable and a loving mother, meanwhile, she loathed Claudius. She made it clear to Claudius that she hated him. She did not even feel sympathy for Claudius being a cripple. The only sympathy she felt was for herself, for having to put up with Claudius. She was disgusted by her own son.

Also, in Claudius the God, Messalina, Claudius third and most loved wife, was also seen as very beautiful. Her beauty was very deceiving. She tricked Claudius by lying to him that Barbillus the astrologer told her that her husband would die a violent death. She did this because she wanted to divorce Claudius, and it worked. Claudius quickly came up with a plan to cheat death. Claudius divorced Messalina and allowed her to remarry someone else so that Claudius would not die because he would not be Messalina's husband.

Those close to Claudius were not the only deceiving ones. Claudius himself was also deceiving. In I, Claudius, Claudius was considered a fool and kept out of public life due to his appearance. Only Augustus thought Claudius as not stupid and granted Claudius a non-governmental priesthood position. When Calligula became emperor, he appointed Claudius as consul, alongside Calligula's horse, as a joke. In actuality, Claudius was trained as a scholar, by the historian Livy and wrote several histories and literary works in Latin and Greek.

Claudius studied a lot and was truly a lot smarter than he appeared. In Claudius the God, the Romans still did not perceive Claudius intelligence and capabilities. After the assassination of Calligula, Claudius was found hiding in the palace, scared for his own life. The Praetorian Guards, interested in keeping their job as the Emperor's bodyguard, declared Claudius as emperor and forced the S...

Research essay sample on Spiritual Beliefs Roman Empire