Rome

Rome is one of the main settings of the novel, but it also symbolizes power and wealth. Rome is more than just a place; it is a way of life, a symbol of all the power in the world. As the novel moves forward, Rome also comes to symbolize Octavius himself, as he and the city become so intertwined that one is nearly unintelligible from the other. Rome is the pinnacle of human accomplishment in the novel, and it is therefore much more than just a place.

Poems

Poems in the novel represent the mutability of histories. While Octavius himself is not a poet, he befriends many poets in his lifetime, and he understands the power of poetry to build on images and emotions to tell a story. Octavius describes Rome as his poem; he is able to piece it together to the best of his...