3 adjectives to describe Plint the Elder

If there were to be three adjectives that I could use to describe Pliny the Elder, I would say that he is calm, confident and courageous(almost fearless).

I think he is calm because in the midst of all this confusion with Mt. Vesuvius erupting, he doesn't seem to be to nervous about it. For example, when his mother indicates that there is an unusual looking cloud, he does not seem too bothered by it. Pliny writes, "Usus ille sole, mox frigida, gustaverat iacens studebatque;" (line 14-15) so this shows that he is still going along his merry old way and doesn't seem too concerned over the cloud. Another example that shows Pliny the Elder is very calm is when his friend is trembling and PTY writes, "consolatur hortatur," (47-48) and these words describe Pliny as being a comforting person to his friend and he is calm enough to try to make his friend stop trembling. Also, PTY writes, "deferri in balineum iubet;" (50). Taking a bath and eating food are both actions that are done in a calm manner and among all this destruction, he is calm enough to just want a bath and to eat. Now, that is a calm person!


He seems to be confident because he is willing to go into the destruction of the mountain and he is certain that he will be successful. It can be seen that Pliny the Elder is confident when it says, "Erat Miseni classemque imperio praesens regebat." (12) This shows that he was ruling the fleet and you must be confident in order to be in command of a fleet to people. He also is seen as confident in the word choice that PTY uses. For example, he says, "rectumque cursum recta gubernacula in periculum tenet" (34). This shows nothing but confidence because it makes the reader believe that he is comfortable with his decision and carries that out by holding a straight course. It sounds better if Pliny was holding a straight course rather than being wishy-washy about his decision. Therefore, it makes someone believe that Pliny MUST be confident about the saving of the people. Confidence is exemplified in his words, "Fortes fortuna iuvat!" because the ones who were skeptical would hear this and think, "If he's confident that I must be too!" One more example of why confidence is an excellent adjective is when PTY writes, "certus fugae" (47). This shows confidence because they letter says he is certain of fleeing and that can give people hope.



Another word that describes him is courageous (almost fearless) because not everyone would drop everything that he has and decide to help people out. He is fearless because it is he that decides to go the eruption of a volcano and try to help people out. He doesn't have to but he wants to so I feel that makes him courageous. For example, PTY writes, "ascendit ipse non Rectinae modo sed multis" (32). By saying this you get a feeling that he must be fearless because he is going somewhere where everyone is leaving from and he wants to help. He is also fearless because while everyone is scared he was dictating and noting down everything. This can be seen in this sentence, "adeo solutus metu, ut omnes illius mali motus omnes figuras ut deprenderat oculis dictaret enotaretque" (35-37). He is also courageous based in the description of the place is heading into with his boat. It says, "am navibus cinis incidebat, quo propius accederent, calidior et densior; iam pumices etiam nigrique et ambusti et fracti igne lapides;" (38-39) Only a person with hardly any fear could keep going into a place with rocks broken with fire coming at them!!

So, Pliny the Elder to me is displayed as calm, confident and fearless.