The Secret History · Concept
Moral Decadence
Theodora's early life as a courtesan and her later depraved actions, along with the general licentiousness of the court, illustrate a theme of moral decay at the highest levels of society.
Theodora's early life as a courtesan and her later depraved actions, along with the general licentiousness of the court, illustrate a theme of moral decay at the highest levels of society.
The open adultery, lack of shame, and brutal murders within the household of a great general highlight the moral decay among the elite of the Byzantine court.
Belisarius, a great conqueror, is reduced to licking his wife's feet and declaring himself her slave, illustrating the corruption of personal honor.
Belisarius's subservience to Antonina, his broken oaths, and the public mockery highlight moral decay among the elite.
Theodora's shameless behavior on and off the stage exemplifies the moral decay of the era.
Characters
Chapters
- How the Great General Belisarius Was Hoodwinked by His Wife, Whose Lover Became a Monk
- How Theodora, Revenging Her Dear Antonina, Humiliated the Conqueror of Africa and Italy
- How Theodora Tricked the General’s Daughter Into a Liaison with the Empress’s Nephew, and Belisarius Became a Public Laughing Stock
- IX: And How Theodora, Most Depraved of All Courtesans, Won His Love
- X: How Justinian Created a New Law Permitting Him to Marry a Courtesan on Her Promise to Repent Her Past; and the Truth About the Apparent Quarrels of a Happy Pair
- XII: Proving That Justinian and Theodora Were Actually Fiends in Human Form
