Stoicism

Stoicism is an important personality trait that many people could benefit from having. People that display this trait come across as very brave and mature. "Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will...” Even though Seneca is about to die, he keeps himself calm and collected. Stoicism is the ability to endure pain and hardship while retaining the ability to control ones emotions; Seneca, at his death, was a perfect example of a stoic.

Seneca portrays the quality of being stoic in many different instances. The Internet Ancient History Sourcebook said, "Seneca, as his aged frame, attenuated by frugal diet, allowed the blood to escape but slowly, severed also the veins of his legs and knees.” Seneca “allows” the blood to escape slowly because he uses his stoicisms which lets him endure the pain and hardship of dying. Most people would not face death in such a way. Seneca does not let his emotions take over himself and he just works through the kinks. “Seneca, quite unmoved, asked for tablets on which to inscribe his will…” (Internet Ancient History Sourcebook). Knowing he was about to be killed, he doesn’t scream and fight the people, but he simply just asks for a tablet so he can write his will. Seneca was “unmoved” by his fate. He calmly sat there taking everything in.

Seneca was a friend of the emperor Nero, and he helped him in numerous ways. Seneca was widely known and was rather wealthy. “When even in the height of his wealth and power he was thinking of his life's close." (Internet Ancient History Sourcebook). Even though Seneca was rich and prosperous, he knew he would have to die someday. Being killed wasn’t something he wanted, but it was what was going to happen and he calmly accepted it. Seneca did not show his pleasure in his wealth either. He had something so great and he surprisingly received his death penalty with no fear. Seneca showed no concern to this great burden because he was a stoic. He did not grant himself the power to just break out crying over his death.

Seneca even used his stoicism to help others in a way. “Having spoken these and like words, meant, so to say, for all, he embraced his wife; then softening awhile from the stern resolution of the hour, he begged and implored her to spare herself the burden of perpetual sorrow, and, in the contemplation of a life virtuously spent, to endure a husband's loss with honorable consolations.” (Internet Ancient History Sourcebook). Seneca was about to be put to death and his wife wanted to be too because he would be gone. Seneca did not allow this to happen because he cared for other people even when he was about to die. He showed his affection towards his wife and did not let this deep pain get the best of himself.  Seneca’s stoicism helped him in this great unfortunate event.

Even in the hardest of times, Seneca showed his Stoicism. Not only did he act unconcerned at the statement of his death, but he also watched over and cared for others even in the harshest moments. Seneca's stoicism probably made him a more likable person to be around, and he also benefited from it because he did not get all worked up over the many joyful or negative events that he encountered in his lifetime. 

Halsall , Paul. "Internet Ancient History Sourcebook: Late Antiquity." Fordham EDU. Web. 5 Apr. 2011. <http://www.fordham.edu/halsal