The Man in the Mirror: Self-awareness and Self-Criticism in the Satires of Persius

Persius is often ignored in favor of Horace and Juvenal, largely because he is misunderstood. Most critics consider him little more than an "angry young man," but Persius' anger is only the means to an end. His <em>Satires</em> are in large part an exercise in self-reflection and self-criticism and an exhortation for the people of Rome to do the same. By looking at the work backwards and analyzing his fourth, third, and first satires, the reader can see the author's ideas revealed in full, and better understand Persius' overall intent when reading the poems in their proper order.