Poetry · Chapter
Agrippina explained
The chapter opens with Agrippina receiving orders from her son Nero to remove from Baiae and surrender her guard.
What happens
The chapter opens with Agrippina receiving orders from her son Nero to remove from Baiae and surrender her guard. She rages against his ingratitude, recalling how she elevated him to power. Her confidant Aceronia warns her of the danger of defying Nero, but Agrippina threatens rebellion, boasting of her influence over the legions and plotting to raise the spirit of Liberty. Meanwhile, Otho has secretly brought Poppaea to Baiae, entrusting her to Anicetus, who betrays him by introducing Nero to Poppaea. Poppaea, dazzled by imperial prospects, joins Anicetus in a plot to ruin Agrippina. The drama foreshadows Agrippina's murder by drowning, orchestrated by Nero and Anicetus, and concludes with Nero's horror and remorse.
Themes in this chapter
Ambition and Fame
Agrippina's relentless ambition to maintain power and her role in elevating Nero to the throne.
Suffering and Adversity
Agrippina's anguish at Nero's ingratitude and her impending doom.
Melancholy and Reflection
Agrippina's bitter reflections on her sacrifices and the betrayal by her son.
Characters to notice
- Agrippina
The Empress-mother, furious at Nero's orders to remove from Baiae and surrender her guard; she threatens rebellion and plots revenge.
- Nero
The Emperor, Agrippina's son, who orders her removal and later plots her murder.
- Anicetus
Captain of the Guards, who betrays Otho by introducing Nero to Poppaea and conspires to kill Agrippina.
- Poppaea
Beloved of Otho, secretly brought to Baiae; she is dazzled by Nero and joins the plot against Agrippina.
- Seneca
The Emperor's preceptor, sent ahead to Baiae to inform Agrippina of the accusation concerning Rubellius Plancus.
- Aceronia
Confidant to Agrippina, who warns her of the dangers of her fierce resentment.
Key passages
“His mother shall obey him. Say you saw her Yielding due reverence to his high command; Alone, unguarded and without a lictor, As fits the daughter of Germanicus.”
Agrippina sarcastically tells Anicetus to report that she obeys Nero's orders, alone and without guards, as befits Germanicus's daughter.
Agrippina's bitter compliance masks her defiance.
“If the son reign, the mother perishes. Perish (you cried) the mother! reign the son!”
Aceronia recalls the prophecy that if Nero reigns, Agrippina will die, and Agrippina's response was to accept her own death for his reign.
The prophecy foreshadows Agrippina's fate.
“Thus ever grave and undisturbed reflection Pours its cool dictates in the madding ear Of rage, and thinks to quench the fire it feels not.”
Agrippina dismisses Aceronia's cautious advice as the cold reasoning of someone who does not feel her fury.
Agrippina's rage rejects prudence.
“Let majesty sit on thy awful brow, And lighten from thy eye; around thee call The gilded swarm that wantons in the sunshine Of thy full favour; Seneca be there In gorgeous phrase of laboured eloquence To dress thy plea, and Burrhus strengthen it. With his plain soldier's oath, and honest seeming. Against thee, Liberty and Agrippina; The world, the prize; and fair befall the victors.”
Agrippina imagines a trial where Nero uses his courtiers and Seneca's eloquence, while she and Liberty oppose him for the prize of the world.
Agrippina's rhetorical vision of a contest between tyranny and freedom.
