The Walking Muse

Kirk Freudenburg offers a fresh perspective on Roman satire by analyzing Horace's literary influences, challenging the view that his Satires are mere moral sermons. He uncovers Horace's connections to popular comedy and Hellenistic moral literature, illustrating how the poet uses a sophisticated persona to navigate the gritty realities of life. By portraying the speaker as a theatrical character akin to comedic cynics, Freudenburg highlights the deeper ethical and philosophical themes within Horace's work, culminating in a nuanced theory of satire.