# XXII explained — Dialogues > Chapter companion for Dialogues by Seneca. ## What happens Seneca argues to Marcia that her son's early death may have been a blessing, given the fragility and peril of human life. He contrasts the dangers of living longer—disease, moral decay, exile, and violence—with the safety of an early death. He then recounts the story of her father, Cordus, who starved himself to death to escape the persecution of Sejanus, emphasizing that even death can be denied to the oppressed. ## Themes in this chapter ### Death and Consolation Seneca argues that early death can be a merciful escape from life's dangers, and uses the story of Cordus to illustrate the value of a timely death. ### Human Nature and Folly Highlights the treachery and fragility of human life, and the folly of trusting in fortune or the future. ### Clemency and Justice Contrasts the cruelty of Sejanus and his prosecutors, who sought to deny Cordus even the right to die, with the natural justice of a self-chosen death. ## Character check-ins ### Marcia Seneca addresses Marcia directly, consoling her for her son's death and recounting the story of her father Cordus. ### Socrates Cited as an example of a wise man who was imprisoned, showing that even wisdom does not prevent suffering. ### Marcus Cato Cited as an example of a holy man who died by self-inflicted wound, illustrating the inevitability of death. ### Sejanus Described as the persecutor of Cordus, who used informers and sought to deny Cordus the right to die. ### Pompey His theatre is mentioned as the site where a statue of Sejanus was erected, an act Cordus condemned. ### Seneca The author and speaker, offering philosophical consolation to Marcia. ## Key lines > Nothing is so deceptive, nothing is so treacherous as human life; by Hercules, were it not given to men before they could form an opinion, no one would take it. Human life is so full of deceit and danger that if people knew what it entailed before being born, none would choose to live. _Seneca emphasizes the inherent peril of existence to console Marcia for her son's early death._ > Not to be born, therefore, is the happiest lot of all, and the nearest thing to this, I imagine, is that we should soon finish our strife here and be restored again to our former rest. The best fate is never to be born, and the next best is to die young and return to peace. _A Stoic reflection on the value of an early death as an escape from life's troubles._ > Do you see, Marcia, how suddenly evil days come upon a man? and do you weep because one of your family could not avoid dying? one of your family was within a very little of not being allowed to die. See how quickly misfortune can strike—and yet you mourn that your son died, when your own father was nearly denied the right to die. _Seneca uses the story of Cordus to reframe Marcia's grief, suggesting death can be a liberation._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_2_se/chapters/xxii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_2_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/dialogues_2_se/chapters