Character History
In the series Cato is the most prominent of the conservative division of the Roman Senate. He is portrayed as a defender of the republic and implacably opposed to Caesar's populism and potentially illegal war in Gaul, which he perceives as part of Caesar's plan to "buy himself a crown." He is also the only one of the senators who will stand up and oppose Caesar openly, demanding that he be called back to stand trial for treason. He wins Pompey over to the Senate's cause by persuading him that Caesar has stolen the love of the people from him.
During the civil war, Cato and Scipio assume leadership of the Republican forces following the murder of Pompey in Egypt, but they are defeated at Thapsus in the province of Africa (roughly modern Tunisia), and Cato commits suicide in Utica.
Read more about this topic: Cato The Younger (Rome Character)
Famous quotes containing the words character and/or history:
“There is no character, howsoever good and fine, but it can be destroyed by ridicule, howsoever poor and witless. Observe the ass, for instance: his character is about perfect, he is the choicest spirit among all the humbler animals, yet see what ridicule has brought him to. Instead of feeling complimented when we are called an ass, we are left in doubt.”
—Mark Twain [Samuel Langhorne Clemens] (1835–1910)
“The basic idea which runs right through modern history and modern liberalism is that the public has got to be marginalized. The general public are viewed as no more than ignorant and meddlesome outsiders, a bewildered herd.”
—Noam Chomsky (b. 1928)