Seneca’s Octavia: A Reading

Seneca’s Roman tragedy Octavia focuses on three days during the year of 62 AD, where Nero divorced and subsequently exiled his wife (Claudia Octavia) and married another woman (Poppaea Sabina).

Moreover, Seneca’s play deals with Nero’s temper and his subsequent inability to take heed of the philosopher Seneca’s advice – which is to rein in his passions.

In summary, Octavia begins the play lamenting, whilst the nurse console her and attempts to dissuade her from exacting any revenge. The Chorus favour Octavia and looks unfavourably at Nero’s marriage with Poppaea.

Next, Seneca praises the simplicity of his former life and offers his opinion that all things get worse. The philosopher then warns Nero, who then insists on carrying out his despotic plans.

Later, Agrippina appears from the Underworld as a soothsayer. Agrippina then predicts the death of Nero. Octavia then urges everyone not to grieve about her divorce from Nero. However, the Chorus then grieves for her.

Nero grows angry with the rising of the populace and orders severe measures to be taken against them. Nero then orders that Octavia (the cause of the rising) will be transported to Pandataria and will then be murdered there.

Finally, the Chorus sings about popular favour which has been destructive to many, and then tells of the fates which befell the Julio-Cluadian dynasty.

Authorship

Seneca’s play was generally attributed to Seneca. However, modern scholarship disputes and discredits this. This is because modern scholarship argues that there are accurate prophecies of both Seneca and Nero’s death.

Additionally, whilst the play closely resembles the style of Seneca’s typical plays, this play was more than likely written after Seneca’s death in the Flavian period. Modern scholarship thinks this play was written by someone who was heavily influenced by Seneca, and was more than likely aware of the events of his lifetime.