Duncan Long

Assignment #8 Resolution

            Felix awoke cut, beaten, and bruised. He was chained up to a wall in a dark wooden room and could not make out his whereabouts. The chains were tied so tight his arms were beginning to grow numb. Struggling to gain consciousness, a door opened and in walked Claudius. Felix grew terrified and could still not remember how he ended up in this position.

            The night before at the Lupercalia, Felix was captured by one of Claudius’ centurions. Felix was acting foolish off wine as he accidently bumped into the centurion. From there he was put into custody and escorted to Claudius’ estate were he was beaten to near death.  Felix had no recollection of the event and now stared into the mad eyes of his master. He knew what his future would be. There was no escape for the slave. Runaway slaves were usually put to death to be made an example of.

            Felix was still in a fragile physical state. His arms had lost their feeling and his head was pounding. Claudius picked him up as his chains were released. The runaway slave was dragged outside. He then realized where he was and that this was the end for him. Dragged by his ankles, his tunic was torn off. Bare-naked, Felix was rigorously tied to a wooden pole. The whole family, along with the slaves, was gathered outside to witness the event. As the paterfamilia, Claudius had to make an example of this runaway slave.

            His ship long gone on its way to Egypt, Felix hung in front of a crowd of people including his love Claudia. He was given more lashes against his chest and then the noose was applied.

            Felix was hung early in the morning. His dreams of freedom and independence disappeared with his death. In the end, he was just another statistic of the Roman Empire. His death would be the fear of any other slave contemplating escape. The poor man lived a life of slavery confined to the commands of his master.