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Marius the Epicurean · Character

Commodus

The son of Marcus Aurelius, whose violent nature foreshadows the empire's decline.

minor

First appearance: part iv xxvii the triumph of marcus aurelius

Commodus shows up with force in XIII: The "Mistress and Mother" of Palaces. The page is where that presence becomes real.

The young son of Aurelius and Faustina, standing beside his mother, plucking a rose to pieces; resembles his father but with feminine features and his mother's alert gaze.
In the storyXIII: The "Mistress and Mother" of PalacesOpen this moment free

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In XIII: The "Mistress and Mother" of Palaces: The young son of Aurelius and Faustina, standing beside his mother, plucking a rose to…

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See Commodus in part iv xxvii the triumph of marcus aurelius

Character Web

6 connections

A slice of how Commodus sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

MAMarcus AureliusAPApuleiusMAMariusFLFlavianLVLucius VerusCOCommodus

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Authors and Philosophers
  • Imperial and Courtly Circle
  • Protagonist
  • Mythological and Divine Figures

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Falling action.

SetupEscalationAftermathClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point
  • Aftermath
  • Closing

In this passage, Marius reaches an emotional and psychological peak by confronting his own mortality and the d…

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In the story

Commodus appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Commodus in part iv xxvii the triumph of marcus aurelius