Zoilo e Trimalquião duas variações sobre o tema do novo-rico

Abstract

The author of this article analyzes two variations on the theme of the nouveau-riche: Martial’s Zoilus and Petronius’ Trimalchio. In Zoilus, we can grasp all the main features attached to the image of a freedman, and by this we have a clear example of the social type Martial verberates. Petronius evokes the guidelines of the same satyrical tradition, but he also gives his literary creation enough psychological density to make of Trimalchio a real character, with much more complexity than a simple social type would expect to have.