Sejanus his Fall

Roles

• Sejanus - Young Adult (20-35), Adult (36-50), Male

About this piece

Sejanus plots revenge over Drusus

Summary

Sejanus was an ambitious praetorian prefect and close advisor of emperor Tiberius. The play follows the rise and fall of this character as he plots his way to the top by murder and deceit. He plots to murder the emperor's son, Drusus, with his wife Livia. After having poisoned Drusus he tries to marry his widow and become Tiberius' heir. Tiberius, blind to Sejanus' schemes, strongly favors Sejanus, who becomes very powerful. Sejanus and his followers persecute and kill anybody who may threaten his rise to power. Eventually Tiberius realizes what is going on in his court, has Sejanus arrested and executed. This monologue comes in act II, scene 2. At the end of act I Drusus and Sejanus, who hate each other, have a confrontation and Drusus strikes him in the public, humiliating him. Sejanus plots revenge and in scene 1 of act II he meets Livia (Drusus wife) and Eudemus, Drusus' physician, and persuades them to help him murder Drusus by poisoning him. In this monologue Sejanus gives an angry tirade against Drusus, also promising that this will be one of his many "wicked acts" that he will perform to get to the top.

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