Some Roman imperialism, post colonial style: (warning: slight rambling)

 I found Rutilius' discussion of his father's governorship interesting. Rutilius describes his father's command as being beloved by the native people. I think that this is a suspicious understanding. Why would the natives be happy with the imposed rule of a foreign governorship? Rutilius describes the land as being worthy of upright governors, which assumes the rightness of Roman control of the land. Rutilius is unconsciously diving into the Roman imperialist mind set that seems to allow for the subjugation of anyone that is non-Roman. We discussed early in the semester whether it was "acceptable" to use barbarian in the same manner as the Romans. I would say that is only ok if we are trying to convey the Roman imperialist mindset through our translations. As scholars, we should never call any group of people Barbarians. As translators of Roman literature, we should understand that the Roman view of foreign people was often condescending and that their view would have encompassed our present definition of "barbarian". I think that Rutilius poses alot of issues that are relevant to a post-colonial style view of his work. The way in which he brings up Rome, Gaul and non-Roman people conveys an attitude of the imperialist. Nobody compares to a person from Rome for Rutilius. The next best thing is somebody who can at least live near Rome. The common idea of imperialism is that the colonized should desire to be like the colonizer, but the colonized can never be the colonizer. Perhaps Rutilius feels that about himself as a Gaulic born Roman. His embarrassment and bitterness in his lack of office might convey his feeling of separation from Rome that is manifested in his actual voyage away. We have already read and seen that Rutilius' voyage seems to be some sort of perverse miserable nostos; perhaps that miserable nostos derives from the confession that Rutilius is from Gaul and not blessed Rome. No matter how much he desires it, Rutilius can never be a true "Roman", his ties by birth are linked to Gaul and not Rome. I have felt all through out Rutilius' text the weight of Rome's imperialism and Rutilius makes sure to consistently bring it to mind. I don't think this is an accident. I think Rutilius is trying to make us question Rome's imperialistic paradigm in light of the constant foreign threats Rome faces from the Gaulic and Hunnic tribes.