Germanicus & Piso AND Regulus

CHARACTERS
1. Germanicus
  1. Well-respected - People from foreign nations mourn his death. People break out in grief, anger and complaints upon his death. People wouldn't let Piso off from this crime.
    1. Fair - Treats friend and foe alike. Mercy towards enemies.
      1. Lenient towards Piso - Despite all of the curses, he simply renounces his friendship with Piso.
    2. Strong loyalty from friends - His friends make sure that his death is avenged.
  2. Associated with Alexander the Great - Emphasises his greatness and nobility.
    1. Died at young age.
    2. Noble family.
    3. Appearance, age, manner and place of death similar.
2. Piso
  1. Immoral - Allows idleness, hooliganism and bribery to occur in the camp.
  2. Savage - Is suspected of murdering Germanicus with poison.
    1. Extreme behaviour - Uses human remains, spells and curses, curse tablets to curse Germanicus.
  3. Disrespectful - Is joyful when Germanicus dies. He goes to the temple and sacrifices to the gods.
  4. Coward & Cynical - Piso realises his final fate and kills himself before. Takes the easy way out.
3. Tiberius
  1. Modest - Gave a "modest" speech about Piso.
  2. Selfish - In the speech he gives, only looks out for himself, not Piso. Doesn't want to take the blame.
  3. High ranking (emperor).
  4. Biased towards Piso (at first) - Tiberius allows Piso to be governor of Syria.
4. Plancina
  1. Arrogant - Became more arrogant upon Germanicus' death.
  2. Disrespectful - Changes mourning clothes into "happy" clothes when Germanicus dies.
    1. Threw insults at Agrippina.
  3. Untraditional (for a woman) - attended military exercises.
  4. Disloyal - Abandons Piso in his final moments.
5. Agrippina
  1. Elicits pity - Excessive show of grief.
    1. Carries Germanicus' ashes on her journey. Takes her two children with her.
    2. Dramatic portrayal of the ship arriving at the harbour.
    3. Cast eyes.
  2. Loyal - Mourns greatly for Germanicus. Will not give up revenge.
    1. Strong - Comes out into the public even when mourning and physically ill.
  3. Ambiguous
  4. From a noble family.
6. Regulus
  1. Immoral - Tricking people into giving him their money.
    1. Does this a lot!
    2. Swears on his son's life frequently.
    3. Aggressive in approach - Interrogates his "victim".
    4. Insensitive - Visits Verania when she is very ill and sits right next to her.
  2. "Consider the shamelessness of the man!"
7. Verania
  1. Vulnerable
    1. Old
    2. Ill
  2. Easily deceived - Trusts Regulus and ends up leaving a legacy for him.
  3. Determined - Shouts at Regulus even when dying.
THEMES
1. Immorality
  1. Regulus deceives Verania who is old and sick.
  2. Regulus swears on his young son's life.
  3. Regulus has no shame - Visits a female when she is vulnerable.
  4. Piso allows hooliganism, idleness in the camp. Allows soldiers to rampage through fields.
  5. Plancina changes mourning clothes into cheerful ones.
2. Deception
  1. Regulus deceives Verania - Gives her a false sense of security. Acts like he is on her side.
  2. Piso's actions before his death create a false impression of his intentions.
  3. Tacitus states that Germanicus is recovering, but then in reality, he suddenly dies.
3. Supernatural
  1. Curse tablets, human remains, rotten flesh, evil objects found outside Germanicus' house.
  2. Regulus angers gods by swearing false oaths.
4. Political
  1. Plancina attends military exercises.
  2. Tiberius' speech in the Senate - Pushes blame on Piso.
  3. Detailed description of law proceedings - Two days allocated for presenting charges, after an interval of six days, the accused should be defended for three days.
  4. Detailed description of the state's mourning process - a break from legal business, law-courts abandoned, private houses closed to clients.
5. Loyalty
  1. Lack of loyalty - Plancina leaves Piso during his final moments.
  2. Germanicus' friends swear that they will avenge his death.
  3. When Agrippina approached Brundisium, there was a great show of support.
6. Wealth & Power
  1. Germanicus has great power - He is loved by the whole nation, everyone grieves for him.
    1. Germanicus is well-respected - Even foreign nations and kings mourned his death.
  2. Tiberius allows Piso to govern Syria.
EVENTS
1. Agrippina on ship
  1. Carrying Germanicus' ashes.
  2. Mournful reaction from crowds.
  3. With her young children.
  4. Agrippina is of noble birth, had a very fine marriage.
  5. Dramatic arrival at Brundisium. "Everything arranged for sadness".
  6. Cast down eyes.
2. Germanicus poisoned
  1. Use of dark magic - human remains, spells and curses, inscribed lead tablets, rotten flesh, evil objects.
  2. Men, allegedly sent by Piso, to wait for signs of Germanicus becoming ill.
  3. Germanicus instructs his friends on what they ought to do after his death.
  4. When it was thought that he was getting better, he suddenly became worse.
3. Extreme Mourning
  1. Huge grief of the province and the surrounding people.
  2. Foreign nations and kings mourned.
  3. Agrippina did not delay her revenge, despite grieving and being sick.
  4. Upon hearing the rumours of Germanicus' ill-health, grief, anger and complaints broke out.
  5. The news of Germanicus' death inflamed people so much that all usual business stopped.
  6. "Everywhere [there was] silence and wailing."
  7. Both outward signs of mourning, but grieving deeper in their hearts.
  8. Groan from everyone as they see Agrippina disembark.
4. Tiberius' speech/Court
  1. Tiberius tries to reflect any blame from himself.
  2. Piso was chosen by Augustus. Tiberius only sent him to help Germanicus.
  3. 2 days for presenting charges, after another 6 days the defendant should be defended for 3 days.
  4. Three of Germanicus' friends make allegations against Piso.
  5. Piso was charged for everything except the crime of poison.
5. Plancina betrays Piso/Piso's suicide
  1. She said that she would stay be Piso's side (whilst he still had hope of acquittal).
  2. As soon as it appears that all hope for Piso is gone, Plancina gradually distanced herself.
  3. Plancina promised that she would be Piso's companion of death.
6. Regulus visits Verania
  1. Regulus visits Verania when she is very ill. He sits very close to her.
  2. Regulus had been very hostile to Verania's husband.
  3. He holds Verania in suspense after he makes calculations.
  4. He makes his words seem credible by saying that he will consult a haruspex.
  5. He interrogates Verania on which day and which hour she was born.
7. Verania leaves legacy for Regulus
  1. As in danger, Verania decides to write a will and leave a legacy for Regulus.
  2. Once she finds out that it was a lie, Verania curses at Regulus for being a "wicked and treacherous and even more than perjured" man.

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Germanicus & Piso AND Regulus

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	Created by Selina Zheng about 5 years ago