On the Shortness of Life

Seneca writes: “Why do we complain about nature? She has acted kindly: life is long if you know how to use it” (2). What does Seneca believe is the root cause of a short life, and the secret to a long life?

What role does the figure of Augustus play in “On the Shortness of Life” and to what extent is Seneca’s presentation of him positive or negative?

Seneca warns against procrastination: “putting things off is the biggest waste of life: it snatches away each day as it comes, and denies us the present by promising the future” (5). How does Seneca’s perspective on procrastination relate to his broader message about the value of time and a meaningful life?

Seneca relies on rhetorical questions throughout his essay for reader engagement. Given the context of Roman rhetoric and oratory, explore the ways in which Seneca’s rhetorical questions enhance his argument.

Seneca uses the motif of death in various contexts throughout his essay. How does the presentation of death convey Seneca’s overall philosophy on living a meaningful life in the face of mortality?

Discuss some of the distractions and anxieties Seneca highlights as antithetical to the Stoic way of life and consider how these descriptions allow him to develop his theme of attaining wisdom through leisure.

Seneca quotes Virgil’s poetry twice. Conduct some research to determine the original context of the quotes, and consider how and why Seneca interpreted these verses in his essay.

Seneca’s style in his essay “On the Shortness of Life” might be considered recursive. What effect does this repetition have on the reader and why do you think Seneca adopted this style.