Abstract

The most recent studies concerning the compositional structure of Seneca's dialogues all agree in stating that its basic organization is due to rhetorical criteria. From this perspective, the article analyzes the general nature of refutation in Consolatio ad Helviam matrem as well as different passages from the dialogue, traditionally considered to be digressions, in order to establish its functionality. We can see from this that the apparently deliberative tenor of the Consolation is endowed with judicial and epideictic elements, and can thus clarify its compositional sequence and lines of thought