Caligula: cultural context

Caligula was a Roman Emperor who reigned from AD 37 to AD 41, notorious for his unpredictable, cruel, and eccentric behaviour.
During his rule, Rome experienced a mix of terror and political chaos. He wasted much of Rome’s treasury on extravagant personal gratifications, declared himself a god, and was alleged to have committed various shocking acts of violence and debauchery.
Caligula’s rule ended when he was assassinated by a conspiracy involving his own guards, marking the first recorded assassination of a Roman Emperor.

Roman society was hierarchical, with the Emperor at the top followed by the Senators, Equestrians, common citizens, and slaves.
Women in Roman society were largely seen as extensions of their fathers or husbands, lacking personal agency and rights.
The concept of Pax Romana, or Roman Peace, came after Caligula’s rule and was seen as a time of relative tranquillity throughout the Empire, in contrast to the upheaval during Caligula’s reign.

Albert Camus’ ‘Caligula’ is influenced by the structure of Greek tragedy, specifically the use of a tragic hero who experiences a downfall due to a fatal flaw.
The existential thought imbued in the character of Caligula seems to echo the Greek tragic quest for understanding the human condition.
The fatal flaw or ‘hamartia’ of Caligula is arguably his narcissism and ruthless quest for absolute power, leading to his inevitable downfall.

The character of Caligula has been variously interpreted throughout history, based on the narrative of his madness and brutality. Some have seen him as a symbol of absolute power corrupting absolutely, while others view him as a tragic figure destroyed by his own ambitious nature.
Albert Camus’ dramatic representation of Caligula in the play paints an unsettling portrait of a tyrant grappling with existential despair and cynicism, revealing dark insights into the human condition.
The figure of Caligula continues to fascinate and horrify, serving as a powerful symbol regarding the dangers of unchecked power and the torment of existential angst.

Albert Camus was a leading figure of the existentialist movement in 20th-century philosophy, and his philosophical ideas significantly impact the portrayal of Caligula.
Known for his theory of the Absurd - the notion that human life is meaningless and absurd, Camus explores this concept deeply in ‘Caligula’.
The existential themes of individual freedom, authenticity, the inevitability of death, and the meaninglessness of life are explored through Caligula’s descent into madness and tyranny.