The Tour · Theme

Wealth and Loss

How The Tour develops Wealth and Loss.

Lucius experiences a dramatic reversal of fortune, losing his vast wealth due to political persecution by Tiberius, which forces him to adapt to a simpler life as a sculptor and highlights the transient nature of material riches.

Where it surfaces

Cape Dire
Lucius loses all his possessions to imperial confiscation, highlighting the fragility of wealth.
XXVIII
Lucius's sudden impoverishment due to Tiberius's confiscation drives the chapter's conflict, as he must sell his ship and belongings to pay Caleb.
Postscript
Caleb's detailed accounting of the sale of the Aphrodite and his cautious plan to remit funds in installments reflects the precarious nature of wealth and the fear of loss through shipwreck or piracy.