Three Claudius

Such a good book.

First, we see Claudius the historian as a narrator, who presents the most secret stories of the Julio-Claudius family. This is the Claudius the author pretends to play.

Second, we see the limp and stammer Clau-Clau-Claudius as an outsider of the Julio-Claudius family, a survivor from the bad Claudius wiping off the good Claudius, a fortunate Emperor-to-be as no one could ever imagine. This is the Claudius the historians want to see.

But third and the most important, the author wants us to see a Claudius whose wits and cruelty and indifference and imperial characters are all veiled under this impartial observation of his narrations, under this natural neglect from his own family. It’s too difficult to tell if our beloved actor is a good Claudius or a bad Claudius, for the world flows over him, leading him, devouring his clan and eventually lifting him onto the top. Is it pure luck? Or the poor Claudius is actually the incarceration of the whole Julio-Claudius family and of the whole SPQR? I think that’s the question the author leaves us between the lines.