'Satire, Disability and the Disabled in Flavian and Trajanic Rome.'

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Juvenal's famous phrase 'mens sana in corpore sano', which translates to "healthy mind in a healthy body", speaks of his wishes as to how his readers should be in life. However, within this phrase there is an underlying marginalisation of people with mental and physical disabilities, as often occurs in the genre of Satire. Therefore, Roman satire is an interesting case study for discussing mental and physical disabilities. Disability studies in Classics has focused on the historical and archaeological evidence, but there has been little systematic research into their representation in literature. Analysis of the cultural representational model which literature provides us with therefore sits largely untouched by Classics scholars. More recently, gender, race and morality of non-normative bodies in society and literature have received attention. But topics like the importance of being physically or mentally able within an imperialist and slave-using cultural context are largely avoided. This proposed thesis will investigate the representations of disabilities within the genre of satire which is shaped by these cultural constructions, in order to illuminate ancient and modern understandings of disability itself. When considered alongside the rapidly growing scholarship in disability theory, for example internalised ableism or the theory of 'cripping', this thesis is essential for furthering our cultural understanding of disability in Rome (e.g. Campbell, 2009). To focus the thesis, I propose to evaluate the writings of Juvenal and Martial, both of whom were at their most prolific within half a century of each other and were of similar socio-economic status. This will narrow the scope to a specific period, language, and a genre emblematic of "Roman-ness". I have both the necessary linguistic and contextual knowledge for this thesis. Alongside my current studies in Latin, I received a First in my undergraduate dissertation on disability in Greek mythology. My MA dissertation will further this by examining representations of disabilities in Juvenal's Satires. MA modules like 'Mastering the Arts', for which I have received Distinction class marks, have introduced me to the skills necessary for interdisciplinary research. The department at the University of Nottingham has scholars working on health humanities projects such as ancient medicine (Thomas), as well as ancient trauma and resilience (Lovatt). They also have strengths in the history of the Roman empire (Malloch, Buckland, Kropp) as well as sensory studies (Bradley). Being visually impaired myself, my personal experiences can bring a new depth of understanding to this field of study.