The Perseverance of Plato

When I first started reading this work, I was surprised at how classically philosophical it is.  For a author writing at the end of 5th and into the 6th century AD, I am surprised that Boethius is so clearly attempting to preserve Greek philosophy. Naturally I can see how Plato's maxims could certainly be appropriately incorporated into Christian literature, I am just always surprised when an late author, particularly one this late, decides to so blatantly include connections to the classical world. The overall tone of the poem reflects Boethius' current predicament when he wrote it, that is he was imprisoned for treason against Theodoric the Great, for which he would eventually be executed. He describes how evil can exist even in a world which is ruled over by God, and that through these sufferings, happiness will be obtained after death. The clear Platonic undertones makes this work less Christian to me, more simply a work written by a man who is a Christian but who is not writing a strictly Christian work. Perhaps this is why I was so surprised that this work was so prolific following its publication, at a time when Christianity was so much at the forefront in Rome. I also feel a very clear connection once again to Cicero and it is interesting that this certainly seems to be an almost theme for us throughout the semester for pretty much all of the authors we have read. Perhaps that is why I had such a difficult time with this author, particularly in relation to the metered portions.

This certainly the first time I have ever come into contact with a work that combines both meter and prose, and I find that it makes for a very choppy translation process.  I felt as though just as I was falling into a rhythm for one style, he switches and I have to reconfigure by process in my mind. I can't say I particularly like this style and I am still a little unsure to what end Boethius decided to alternate in such a way. I just hope that I can eventually get into a groove as I translate more, but I am not sure that I could get used to this style.