Cato: A Tragedy, and Selected Essays

I suppose there is a reason Washington, Adams, Franklin and Adam Smith, among others, thought highly of Joseph Addison's play, Cato, A Tragedy, along with Addison's Spectator essays [Liberty Fund, Inc., 2004, 282 pages]. The play, written in 1713, covers the period during which, in recognizing Caesar's tyrannical overreach, Cato (the younger or of Utica) found himself aligned with Pompey in opposition to Caesar. Following Pompey's defeat in 46BC at Pharsalus, Cato finds himself in North Africa, Utica, facing the reality that his defense of the Roman Senate and liberty were futile as Caesar's forces were too great. Realizing that he would most likely be pardoned by Caesar, Cato told his party to flee, thereafter taking his own life symbolically gesturing the death of Roman Liberty. Also this has been seen as denying Caesar a moral victory, and "one man's refusal to accept a life under tyranny and therefore as a vindication of individual liberty." (pp.xxi) Following Cato's death, Caesar killed the members of the senate he could track down. Cicero had a tendency to call certain things the parent or father of all others. For example, gratitude is not just the greatest virtue, "but the parent of all others." Cicero's On the Ends of Good and Evil, casts Cato of Utica as the "spokesman of Stoicism."(pp.XX). Like his great grandfather, Cato the Censor, Cato the Younger held fast to stoicism's ideals, such as thrift and austerity. Cato was ironically seen as representing both the republic and liberty. The play has an opening by Pope, a Tory, and the epilogue by Samuel Garth, a Whig. This can perhaps be attributed to its timing, following the English civil war. Washington broke with protocol and had the play performed to boost the morale of his troops at Valley Forge, who were engaged against the tyrannical King George III. Stoicism, indifference to pleasure and pain, sees virtue as the highest goal in accord with nature. Fulfilling one's duty for the correct reason - a commitment to high principles. Seneca, Nero's advisor, was also a stoic. The play itself is well written and a quick entertaining read. A few lines of note, "The post of honor is a private station," cited by Washington. "And that which he delights in must be happy," Franklin's handbook autobiography. "Beneath a helmet in your father's battles," again, cited by Washington for mutinous officers at Newburgh. "But chains of conquest, liberty or death," Patrick Henry's give me liberty or give me death. "Better to die ten thousand deaths, than to wound my honor," Demosthenes to Philip II of Macedon. "What virtues grow from ignorance and choice," Aristotle's take that virtue comes from choosing the right action for `the right reasons' (stoicism). "Tis not in mortals to command success," paraphrased by both Adams and Washington in letters. This publication also includes numerous of Addison's essays as written in his Spectator.Addendum: It should be noted that by and large the appeal of Cato and Demosthemes, three centuries prior, by this nation's founders was not only their non-imperialist, anti-tyrannical take, but their non-expansionary or non-interventionist expoundings which related not simply to defense of liberty but the protection of the public purse, or less theft of the peoples' property through taxes. Non-interventionism and open trade.[...]

This book includes the play Cato along with several essays - all composed by Joseph Addison in the early 18th century in Britain. The book has excellent introductions and annotations. Reading this book provides a very good window into the Classical Age and how it links to the Enlightenment Age. These works by Addison had strong influences on America's founding fathers including George Washington and Patrick Henry.

The Roman senator, Cato the Younger (95 BC - 46 BC) stubbornly resisted Julius Caesar's rise to power, but was ultimately defeated by Caesar in north Africa. Addison's play focuses on the last days of Cato's life, as Caesar's forces advanced. Although others urged Cato to come to terms with Julius Caesar, Cato resists to the end, finally committing suicide rather than surrendering. This tragedy has strong political overtones, addressing the conflict between individual liberty and government tyranny and republicanism versus monarchism.Writing a political play during a period of intense political rivalry in England, Joseph Addison avoided charges of partisanship by having the prologue written by a Tory poet, Alexander Poe, and the epilogue by a Whig poet, Samuel Garth. Although this tragedy was held in high esteem throughout the eighteenth century, today's audience may find Addison's effusive praise of Cato's political virtue tends to be rather one-dimensional, and thus not entirely convincing.Cato remained popular for decades in England and even longer in the American colonies, becoming a literary inspiration for the American Revolution. George Washington had it performed for the Continental Army at Valley Forge. The famous quotes by Patrick Henry and Nathan Hale were apparently derived from Addison's play.Addison's characterization of Cato lacks the psychological depth and complexity that is found in Shakespeare's tragedies, or even what we have come to expect in modern biographical films like A Man for All Seasons, Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, and Gandhi. To be fair to Addison, Cato was described by his contemporaries, including his political enemies, as having high moral standards and incorruptible virtue. In contrast, Addison portrays Cato's sons Portius and Marcus, his close friend Lucius, and his protégé Juba, the prince of Numidia, in more realistic fashion, all decidedly loyal to Cato, but subject to private doubts and other emotions.Cato is considered by many as the best tragedy written in eighteenth century England. I give it four stars, in part for its historical significance.Note: Individual editions of Cato may not be easy to find, but it is often included in collections of eighteen century English plays. The Everyman edition, titled The Beggar's Opera and Other Eighteenth Century plays (edited by David Lindsay), is a good source.

Addison's Cato inspired the American revolution, quoted by Nathan Hale, Patrick Henry, John Adams, performed at Valley Forge at George Washington's request. Cato's extreme devotion to liberty and to republic (as opposed to what became empire) comes to life in a way Plutarch doesn't achieve. It is Cato who regrets he has but one life to give for his country, Cato who cries, "Give me liberty or give me death!" and chooses suicide over rather generous terms offered by Julius Caesar. I would like to see this play performed more often; I wish my childrens' high schools performed it regularly.

Used, and I loved the few excellent notes written in the book to understand some parts.

The connection to the birth of our country makes this worthwhile reading. I encourage any serious American history hobbyist to immerse him/her self in this book.

George Washington read Addison as did his contemporaries. Cato was a play that he attended in Valley Forge. After visiting George and Martha Washington's home in Mount Vernon, I had to explore their world. If you visit Mount Vernon, be sure and talk to "Lady Washington". She has a great deal of knowledge of the culture as well as the relationship with Lafayette's family. We are so fortunate to have had George and Martha Washington as the first leaders of our nation.

Described perfectly! Exactly what I expected.