Zwischen Verlustangst und Konsternation. Überlegungen zu Plinius’ des Jüngeren „Düsternis“ in den Büchern VII und VIII

Abstract

In Books VII and VIII of his letters, Pliny the Younger reflects on illness, loss, and mortality. Unlike earlier letters, which offer detached accounts of others’ deaths, these books reveal a personal shift: Pliny describes his own illness and his wife Calpurnia’s miscarriage, triggering a temporary existential crisis. This study explores how his pursuit of memoria and aeternitas intertwines with his fear of oblivion. While literary fame offers one path to immortality, he also sees biological offspring as essential for preserving his legacy. His letters reflect an emotional struggle between love, loss, and ambition. Book VIII marks a turning point, as Calpurnia’s recovery restores his hope for descendants. Pliny gradually regains his confidence, illustrating how his letters function not just as personal reflections but as a literary self-portrait capturing his evolving emotions and intellectual outlook.