Statius' Silvae 4.8 and 4.9: The Poet's Anger and Patronage

This note considers Statius' Silvae 4.8 and 4.9, focusing on the poet's angry persona. After Catullus' and Martial's antecedents, the anger of the poet is studied under a sociological lens, in the frame of patronage and gift-giving in Imperial Rome. Through this persona the poet both enhances his encomium, showing confidence toward his patrons, and pinpoints the lack of proper reciprocity from his patrons themselves. But the whole fourth book of the Silvae serves as a reflection on patronage, as if the poet wants to look at it, and experiment new literary expressions, from a distanced and more detached persona.