THE DAUGHTERS OF PALATINE HILL: QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Beware, if you haven’t read the book yet! There are some spoilers in here!
1--Julia saw herself as motherless even though she had both a mother and a stepmother. Were Livia or Scribonia to blame for this? Do you think if Julia had had a closer relationship to one of them growing up her life would have been different?
2¬--Did Augustus (Tavius) truly love his daughter? How did their relationship impact Julia’s life?
3--Cleopatra Selene managed to survive and prosper after an adverse start in life. Why do you think that was?
4--Each of Julia’s marriages were political arrangements, but she reacted differently to each one. Why?
5--Augustus (Tavius) tried to legislate morality in Rome. Do you think governments can successfully foster morality? Should they try to?
6--Why do you think Tiberius turned on Julia when their baby died? How do you imagine their relationship would have evolved if the baby lived?
7--Jullus says he wants both Julia and political power. Which do you think was most important to him?
8--In arguing with her father, Julia says Livia can’t see Tiberius clearly because she is his mother. Was she right? Thinking of the three central women characters, Julia, Livia, and Cleopatra Selene, would you say they have accurate views of the people close to them?
9--Was Julia right to revolt against her father? Do you think she was willing to have him killed by those who plotted to overthrow him?
10--Livia says that some people are unable to be happy in the situation they are born into. Was this true of Julia? Do you think it is true of some people today?
11--How are the women in the novel used by men to help them keep or obtain political power? How do Livia, Julia, and Cleopatra Selene exercise power themselves, openly and/or behind the scenes? Have the political roles of women completely changed in the modern world—or only in some respects?
P.S. I love hearing from readers! You can contact me here at Goodreads or at phyllistsmith@gmail.com.
1--Julia saw herself as motherless even though she had both a mother and a stepmother. Were Livia or Scribonia to blame for this? Do you think if Julia had had a closer relationship to one of them growing up her life would have been different?
2¬--Did Augustus (Tavius) truly love his daughter? How did their relationship impact Julia’s life?
3--Cleopatra Selene managed to survive and prosper after an adverse start in life. Why do you think that was?
4--Each of Julia’s marriages were political arrangements, but she reacted differently to each one. Why?
5--Augustus (Tavius) tried to legislate morality in Rome. Do you think governments can successfully foster morality? Should they try to?
6--Why do you think Tiberius turned on Julia when their baby died? How do you imagine their relationship would have evolved if the baby lived?
7--Jullus says he wants both Julia and political power. Which do you think was most important to him?
8--In arguing with her father, Julia says Livia can’t see Tiberius clearly because she is his mother. Was she right? Thinking of the three central women characters, Julia, Livia, and Cleopatra Selene, would you say they have accurate views of the people close to them?
9--Was Julia right to revolt against her father? Do you think she was willing to have him killed by those who plotted to overthrow him?
10--Livia says that some people are unable to be happy in the situation they are born into. Was this true of Julia? Do you think it is true of some people today?
11--How are the women in the novel used by men to help them keep or obtain political power? How do Livia, Julia, and Cleopatra Selene exercise power themselves, openly and/or behind the scenes? Have the political roles of women completely changed in the modern world—or only in some respects?
P.S. I love hearing from readers! You can contact me here at Goodreads or at phyllistsmith@gmail.com.
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I don't believe that Augustus truly loved his daughter as his daughter. Had affection for her, perhaps, but certainly didn't love her in the common parental sense. He loved what she could do for him. He loved her as a political player and expected her to behave as such. Because of his attitude toward their relationship she lashed out, I'm not sure whether it was consciously or subconsciously, as a child often will. I believe she wanted him to see her as something besides a political chess piece so behaved in ways outside of what was expected in that status. Her behavior started as a desperate need for affection. That need certainly doesn't excuse her actions but makes them more understandable.