Books2Movies Club discussion

PART SIX: Which tells of the journey to Capua by part of the company at the Villa Salaria, of some details of that beautiful city. and of how the travellers witnessed the crucifixion of the last of the gladiators.

PART SEVEN: Which deals with the journey of Cicero and Gracchus back to Rome, of what they spoke of along the way, and then of the dream of Spartacus and how it was told to Gracchus.

PART EIGHT: (view spoiler)[In which Varinia finds freedom (hide spoiler)] :)

I have to admit, I didn't care for the line that "...a woman cannot live alone..." but if I take it in the context of the time and cultural time period, then I can deal with it. It's a truthful statement for then, and to a degree, to when the book was written, in 1951. The world has changed somewhat since then (for better and for worse) but it is reflective of the time.

I don't know what I think about all these Roman men falling for Virinia though. I guess she's supposed to be symbolic of the idyllic dream, that maybe they secretly want or desire in their own hearts? There's so much symbolism in the book that I doubt very much if I've even digested it all yet. Still pondering it.