Abstract
The political career of Marcus Tullius Cicero left a profound impact on the history of Rome. Because of his status in the Roman Republic, Cicero had to overcome the novitas of his family before he could establish himself in Rome. To accomplish this feat, Cicero honed his skills in oratory and developed the ability to sensationalize issues and produce spectacles for the people of Rome, gaining reputation in the city and throughout Italy, which was a powerful source of political capital in the Roman Republic. During his early candidatures, Cicero used the courts as a setting for his spectacle, particularly with his defense of Sextus Roscius and his prosecution of Verres. During the year of his consulship, Cicero used his position to strengthen his position in Rome. After denouncing the agrarian law of the tribune Rullus and standing in opposition to Catiline, Cicero left office as a hero of the Republic, with numerous titles to bolster his reputation. Cicero’s position in Rome was threatened when he was sent to exile by the tribune Clodius; however, his response to the exile was to return to the city as if in triumph and to deliver two speeches that illustrated his intimate connection to the constitution and well-being of the Republic. His return from exile indicates the importance of his position in Rome, and his actions led to a restoration of his position. The true power of Cicero was in his use of spectacle; it was his use of spectacle that balanced his novitas, and it was his use of spectacle that built his reputation to such an extent that he became a vital piece of the Roman Republic.