The Secret History · Theme
Moral Decadence
How The Secret History develops 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.
Where it surfaces
- How the Great General Belisarius Was Hoodwinked by His Wife, Whose Lover Became a Monk
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.
- How Theodora, Revenging Her Dear Antonina, Humiliated the Conqueror of Africa and Italy
Belisarius, a great conqueror, is reduced to licking his wife's feet and declaring himself her slave, illustrating the corruption of personal honor.
- How Theodora Tricked the General’s Daughter Into a Liaison with the Empress’s Nephew, and Belisarius Became a Public Laughing Stock
Belisarius's subservience to Antonina, his broken oaths, and the public mockery highlight moral decay among the elite.
- IX: And How Theodora, Most Depraved of All Courtesans, Won His Love
Theodora's shameless behavior on and off the stage exemplifies the moral decay of the era.
- 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
The marriage of a senator to a courtesan, and the shamelessness of the imperial couple, exemplify moral decay.
- XII: Proving That Justinian and Theodora Were Actually Fiends in Human Form
The chapter portrays Justinian and Theodora as demonic entities, indulging in greed, lust, and supernatural corruption, reflecting moral decay.