Research Paper on:
The First Man in Rome by McCullough

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
their backgrounds should really preclude them from such competition but in a world created by Colleen McCullough, it seems that what is not supposed to be, somehow manifests. In McCulloughs  The First Man in Rome, it is important to understand the society at the time and if either of these characters were to advance politically, it would be a change  for the Roman Empire. Of course, these men do advance. Perhaps they have charisma. Perhaps they are in the right place at the right time. And while it is Mariuss  desires that are accentuated in this tale, McCullough writes: "So the toga which Gaius Julius Caesars body servant draped about his left shoulder, wrapped about his frame, hung about his  left arm, was the plain white toga of a man who had never aspired to the ivory curule chair of high office" (3). One then has to wonder if in  fact he really does want to hold office. Another interesting point is that while Marius at least means well, Sulla does not. They are completely different characters in terms  of intention but find themselves in situations together. In some ways, the author might have wanted to contrast good and evil. Is this Mariuss evil twin? The characterization of  Gaius Marius is above all well done, as were the characterizations of many others in the work. There are colorful characters such as "Strong-minded brother Sextus" (5). However, in  the case of Gaius, the author seems to have delved deeper to paint a portrait that is wholly accurate. A great deal of thought may be provoked by this author  in terms of ones contemplation of his or her own actions. Might one in Gaius Mariuss position do the same thing? Certainly, the character is provocative. It is difficult